LEAP Africa has announced the 12th edition of its Social Innovators Programme and Awards, also known as SIPA, scheduled to take place on November 25, 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton in Victoria Island, Lagos. The organisation, known for its impact in youth leadership and social innovation, said the 2025 gathering will unite more than 200 innovators, policymakers, investors, and private sector leaders from different parts of Africa. The event will spotlight high-value themes such as technology, finance, entrepreneurship, and policy, which continue to attract strong interest from development partners and the business sector.
The theme for SIPA 2025 is Africa as THE Sector: Maximising Possibilities through Technology, Finance, and Policy. According to LEAP Africa, the aim is to reshape how the world views the continent by presenting Africa not as an emerging market but as a leading sector full of innovation and growth potential. The convening is expected to drive conversations around sustainable development, digital transformation, impact investment, and long-term economic opportunities. It will also highlight how stronger policies and financial support can open doors for youth-led solutions.
Speaking on the significance of the theme, Kehinde Ayeni, Executive Director of LEAP Africa, said, “Africa is not a peripheral player; it is the sector of opportunity, creativity, and transformation. At LEAP Africa, we are intentional about positioning young African innovators as architects of a redefined global order. More than a convening, SIPA is a movement that is challenges us to believe that Africa’s ingenuity can and must set the agenda for the future.”
The event will feature a series of activities aimed at strengthening collaboration and investment. LEAP Africa stated that, “SIPA 2025 promises an immersive experience, including a Pre-Conference Mixer connecting funders, innovators, and ecosystem leaders; a Partner Breakfast Dialogue designed to spark collaboration; and an Interactive Solution Lab focused on unlocking opportunities through technology, finance, and policy innovation.”
Distinguished speakers expected at the event include Elhadji Malick Soumare, Deputy Chief of Party, Entrepreneuriat and Investissement in Senegal; Ms Naomi Emeka Nwokolo, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Nigeria; Ruby Igwe, Country Director of ALX Africa; Abimbola Ogundare, Chief Operating Officer of Deloitte Africa Consulting; and Karina Karunwi, also known as Awa Daffe, Regional Head at ANDE West Africa and Francophone.
Since its launch in 2013, SIPA has supported more than 290 social innovators, influencing over 4 million lives across 15 African countries and generating over 6 million dollars in funding and revenue. LEAP Africa notes that the platform has consistently driven impact investing and shifted discussions from hype to real solutions.
The convening will close with the SIPA Awards Ceremony, which will honour exceptional contributions through categories such as the Outstanding Innovator Award, the Social Impact Award, the Seyi Bickersteth Award, and the Innocent Chukwuma Prize. Nigeria Startup News is inviting corporate organisations, development agencies, and government institutions to partner on SIPA 2025 by sponsoring the event, supporting Solution Labs, and advancing youth-led transformation across the continent.
