AfriLabs begins search for new executive director as Anna Ekeledo’s tenure ends

AfriLabs will begin the search for a new executive director as Anna Ekeledo prepares to step down in February, ending a ten-year tenure. Ekeledo is still listed as executive director on LinkedIn, and the organisation says operations remain unchanged.

In a statement, AfriLabs said it is seeking “visionary, values-driven leadership capable of scaling impact, deepening continental relevance, and advancing the organisation’s long-term ambition for inclusive, innovation-led development across Africa.” It added that “it is an opportunity to honour what has been built, while inviting the leadership that will carry AfriLabs and Africa’s innovation ecosystems into the future.”

The organisation said the recruitment process will begin in the coming weeks. The transition is being overseen by the AfriLabs Board, working with a Transition Committee made up of trustees, current and former board members, and community representatives.

A decade of expansion under Anna Ekeledo

Under Ekeledo’s leadership, AfriLabs expanded into one of Africa’s largest innovation networks. The organisation grew from 40 into a network of 514 hubs, cited as over 520 by January 2026, spread across 53 countries.

Through programs such as RevUp Women and Talent4Startups, AfriLabs reached more than 280,000 entrepreneurs, startups, and young people. The organisation also set a goal of contributing $1 trillion to Africa’s digital economy.

In July 2025, AfriLabs signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with the African Telecommunications Union to support digital innovation and address regulatory fragmentation across the continent. It also worked with partners including Meta and Intel on initiatives such as Amari, an AI-powered learning assistant for digital education. In the second half of 2025, AfriLabs admitted 18 new hubs across five regions, adding new cities in South Africa and Ghana.

Scale, competition, and the next phase

AfriLabs describes itself as a “network of networks,” connecting tech hubs across Africa to share resources, programmes, and operational knowledge. Its model centres on strengthening local innovation hubs, including incubators, co-working spaces, and labs.

In 2025 alone, AfriLabs disbursed $2.7 million to hubs and startups and reports a wider role in enabling over $1.5 billion in ecosystem investments, alongside the emergence of five unicorns. AfriLabs also says 55% of its member hubs accessed new funding sources through its capacity-building programmes.

AfriLabs currently has around 56 core staff based in Abuja to manage its growing network of more than 500 hubs. It operates in a crowded ecosystem alongside networks such as Africa Fintech Network, Microsoft Founders Hub, Google for Startups Africa, MEST Africa, VC4A, the African Business Angels Network, and Jokkolabs.

Ekeledo will remain with AfriLabs as a member of its advisory council, providing guidance and institutional continuity during the leadership transition.