Skip to main content
KBS_Icon_questionmark link-ico
Global

Go to…

Delivering transformative education across Africa.  

By 2050, one in four young people worldwide will call Africa home. This demographic shift gives the continent unprecedented potential to drive global progress and innovation. Yet too many young Africans still face barriers to quality education and meaningful employment. 

We are working to change that. 

Through a network of partners on the continent, the Afe Babalola Centre for Transnational Education aims to expand access to high-quality education across Sub-Saharan Africa. By training educators and delivering flexible, innovative programmes to underserved young people, the Centre nurtures mindsets and empowers talented individuals to become leaders who make lasting contributions to their communities and the wider world.

Explore the Afe Babalola Centre


Our approach  

We are reimagining access to higher education in Africa. Through inclusive, flexible and high-quality transnational education, we aim to reach one million young people by 2030 - empowering them to pursue a future of their choosing and contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world. 

Our strategy focuses on: 

We are investing in African educators to lead the future of online and blended learning. Our flagship Postgraduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning, co-designed with African partners, is the first step in a long-term effort to strengthen teaching capacity and foster communities of practice across the continent.

We are designing accessible, stackable programmes that open doors to university, further study, work and entrepreneurship. These include fully online Foundation Certificates, with the first in Applied Health; and short courses in life and employability skills. All programmes are co-created with African partners and informed by research with learners, teachers, employers and communities.

We are building the infrastructure to deliver transnational education across Africa. Our Nairobi Hub coordinates regional engagement, supports learners and educators, and anchors a growing network of partners, delivery models and systems that ensure quality, inclusion and impact at scale.

We are co-creating evidence and insights to shape the future of transnational education in Africa and beyond. Through research, partnerships and policy engagement, the Centre generates knowledge that informs practice, drives innovation, and strengthens the design and delivery of inclusive education at scale.


This approach is already being put into practice through our first programmes, marking the beginning of a growing portfolio that will expand opportunities for learners across Africa. 

 

Accessible education

Our transnational education programmes are inclusive, flexible and designed for real impact. We equip young people with practical life and work skills, and strengthen educator capacity across the continent.

kojo-kwarteng-KUzlAah2dog-unsplash

Why our work matters  

 Fewer than one in ten young Africans are enrolled in post-secondary education (UNESCO, 2023). Barriers such as cost, limited access to opportunities, and discrimination prevent many from continuing their studies. These challenges are especially acute for marginalised groups, including refugees, displaced people, and women and girls (UNHCR, 2024; UNESCO, 2023b). 

When young people are excluded from education, they are less able to realise their potential or access meaningful employment. This not only limits individual opportunity but also slows progress towards sustainable development and stability across the continent (World Bank, 2024a). 

By breaking down barriers to education, we can help young people thrive, drive innovation, lead change and contribute to shared prosperity in their communities and beyond (African Union, 2025). . 

ABC infographic

 

Get in touch

If this work resonates with you, email us:

News from the Centre