Leaders from the University of Nairobi and the AFRETEC innovation network together with student participants during the opening of the Makerthon at Chiromo Campus.
The University of Nairobi, through the AFRETEC Pathways to Opportunities pillar, on Monday, 16th March 2026, opened the AFRETEC Makerthon 2026, marking the beginning of a five-day innovation sprint that brought together student innovators from leading African and global universities.
The Makerthon, which ran from 16–20 March 2026, provided a collaborative environment where multidisciplinary student teams rapidly designed, prototyped and tested solutions to real-world challenges. Hosted at the C4DLab innovation hub, the event reflected the University of Nairobi’s commitment to advancing innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven problem-solving across the continent.
The opening session brought together key leaders from the University of Nairobi and the AFRETEC innovation network, who included: Dr Sam Ruhiu, representing AFRETEC Network – the Pathways to Opportunities Pillar Head, Prof. Elisha Abade, Chair of Department- Department of Computing and Informatics, Prof. Francis Nyongesa, Ag. Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof. George Abong’, Director of University Advancement and Institutional Development and AFRETEC Coordinator, University of Nairobi and Prof. Maina Wagacha, Director of the Intellectual Property Management Office (IPMO), who also represented the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise (DVC-RIE).
In their remarks, speakers emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for students to experiment, collaborate and build practical solutions that respond to societal needs. Speakers highlighted the critical role universities play in nurturing innovation ecosystems and supporting student-led solutions that have the potential to grow into impactful technologies and ventures.
The Makerthon attracted participation from students representing a diverse network of universities, creating a vibrant platform for cross-cultural collaboration and knowledge exchange. Participating institutions include: The American University in Cairo, Al Akhawayn University, Universidade Agostinho Neto, CMU-Africa, Universite Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, University of Lagos, University of Nairobi, University of Rwanda and University of the Witwatersrand. Bringing together students from these institutions created an environment where ideas, experiences and perspectives converge, strengthening collaboration across Africa’s innovation landscape.
Throughout the week, teams worked intensively to transform their ideas into tangible prototypes. Guided by mentors and technical experts, participants went through a structured process that included: Identifying and refining real-world problems, designing practical and scalable solutions, developing working prototypes, preparing and presenting innovation pitches. The Makerthon encouraged rapid experimentation and hands-on learning, enabling students to gain valuable experience in design thinking, engineering, teamwork and entrepreneurship.
Events such as the AFRETEC Makerthon play an important role in strengthening Africa’s innovation ecosystem by empowering students to turn bold ideas into prototypes in a collaborative environment. By connecting universities, mentors and innovation hubs, the initiative creates pathways for promising solutions to evolve beyond the Makerthon into future research, startups or community-driven projects.
The AFRETEC Makerthon at the University of Nairobi C4DLab is a celebration of creativity, collaboration and the growing power of student-led innovation across Africa.
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