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| Prof. Mathias B. Yashim, Executive Director Hope Builders Foundation |
An effort towards bridging the widening gap between education and employment in Africa was unveiled as organizers officially announced the Hope Builders Festival 2025, scheduled to hold on November 20–21, 2025, in Kaduna State.
Speaking at a press briefing held at Hope Builders Academy in Kaduna, Rev. (Prof.) Mathias B. Yashim, Executive Director of the initiative, revealed the theme of this year’s festival: “Future-Ready Africa: Beyond Degrees.”
He described the theme as a clarion call to reimagine Africa’s educational and economic future. “For too long, our youth have been sold the illusion that a university degree is a guarantee for a better life,” Yashim said. “But this promise has betrayed millions who now face unemployment and underemployment despite their qualifications.”
Yashim said that the festival will spotlight a growing concern across Africa — the mismatch between academic qualifications and the skills demanded by the modern job market. He lamented that current education systems often fail to equip graduates with practical, employable skills, thereby deepening poverty, disillusionment, and migration among Africa’s youth.
“Africa is not poor,” Yashim declared passionately. “We have everything the world needs to thrive. What we lack is systems that empower our youth to translate potential into opportunity.”
Festival to Showcase Innovation, Skills and Entrepreneurship
The Hope Builders Festival 2025 aims to serve as a transformative platform to equip young Africans with relevant skills, amplify entrepreneurial efforts, and connect change-makers with funders and mentors.
The two-day event will feature:
* Impactful showcases of successful entrepreneurs and their innovations
* Ceremonial graduation of Enterprise Academy MBA candidates
* Launch of new scholarship opportunities to support aspiring youth
* Interactive exhibitions of projects by young talents
* Networking sessions for entrepreneurs, investors, and development partners
* Keynote speeches from thought leaders, captains of industry, and policy influencers
Yashim noted that the festival is designed to inspire, connect, and drive real action. “Our focus is on enabling job creators, not job seekers,” he said. “It’s about giving power back to the people, especially our youth.”
A Collective Call to Action
The organizers extended an open invitation to all stakeholders — government agencies, educational institutions, private sector players, non-profits, and international development partners — to actively participate in the festival and its mission.
Special mention was made of the Kaduna State Government for hosting the event and showing commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive economic development.
Other institutions called upon to support the initiative include:
* Federal Ministries of Education and Youth Development
* National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
* Universities, Polytechnics, and TVET providers
* Start-ups, social enterprises, and industry leaders
* Funding agencies and donor organizations
“This is not just another event,” Yashim stated. “This is a movement to reclaim the promise of education and rewrite the narrative of African potential. We must connect, collaborate, and co-create a continent where degrees do not define success — skills, innovation, and resilience do.”
The Hope Builders Festival 2025 is poised to be a landmark event in the campaign for employability, innovation, and economic justice in Africa.
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