Africa-Press – Liberia. Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah will serve as the keynote speaker at the 16th edition of the Oxford Africa Conference 2026, organizers announced.
The two‐day event, hosted by the Oxford University Africa Society, will take place May 16–17 at the Mathematical Institute’s Andrew Wiles Building.
Weah, who served as Liberia’s 25th president from 2018 to 2024, is celebrated as one of Africa’s most globally recognized figures in sport, humanitarian service, and national leadership.
Born in Monrovia in 1966, he rose from modest beginnings to global prominence. In 1995, he became the only African to win both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.
He was also named African Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. “His life bridges global sporting excellence, humanitarian commitment, and democratic leadership,” organizers said.
The conference theme, “Anchoring Africa: Grounded Leadership in the Age of Disruption,” reflects the continent’s need to navigate “fast‐moving political, economic, technological, and climate shifts.”
Over two days, participants will explore governance, economic growth, entrepreneurship, media and culture, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
Organizers said they hope the discussions “carry forward well beyond the conference,” underscoring its role as a platform for policy, business, culture, and academia to converge on Africa’s future.
Weah’s career has long bridged sport and statesmanship. A three‐time African Player of the Year, he later served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and was appointed in 2024 by FIFA as chair of its Committee Against Racism and Discrimination. His keynote is expected to highlight leadership rooted in resilience and inclusivity.
Other speakers will bring diverse expertise. Ron Chari, executive director of the Chandler Institute of Justice, previously held senior roles at the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank, working in more than 30 African countries.
His career spans infrastructure, energy, private equity, agribusiness, and mining. Chari co‐founded the Centre for Applied Legal Research and KAIA Capital, a Southern Africa‐focused investment firm.
Sir John Lazar, co‐founder and general partner at Enza Capital, will also address the conference. Lazar chairs the Raspberry Pi Foundation and serves as president of the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering.
Enza Capital, founded in 2019, has backed more than 40 African tech companies. The Raspberry Pi Foundation’s commercial arm listed in London in 2024, creating an $800 million endowment for global computing and AI education. A former CEO of Metaswitch Networks, acquired by Microsoft in 2020, Lazar has made more than 40 early‐stage investments across the UK and Africa.
Peace Hyde, award‐winning journalist, activist, and creator of Netflix’s Young, Famous and African, will bring a cultural lens. Her show became the platform’s first African unscripted original, winning two South African Film and Television Awards and reaching the global Top 10 in more than 30 countries.
Hyde, a former West African correspondent for Forbes Africa, later served as its head of digital media and partnerships, launching Forbes Africa TV and flagship shows My Worst Day and Against All Odds. Selected by President Barack Obama in 2018 as one of 200 inaugural Obama Foundation Africa Leaders.
The Oxford Africa Conference, now in its 16th edition, has previously featured leaders such as Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, who delivered the keynote in 2025.
This year, new initiatives include the Graduate Pathways Programme, designed to connect “high‐potential African and Africa‐focused students with leading employers shaping the continent’s future.
” Another project, the Innovation Seed Fund, will support “the next wave of bold African ideas” by backing startups, community projects, and creative ventures.
Organizers said the conference is built to meet Africa at a moment of transformation.
“Over two days in Oxford, we will bring together people working across policy, business, finance, culture and academia to share perspective, challenge assumptions, and learn from one another. We hope the discussions here carry forward well beyond the conference.”
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