More than 600 young innovators, climate advocates, policymakers, and entrepreneurs gathered at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology for the second edition of the Developing Youth Ecopreneurs Conference (DYEC 2026), an initiative aimed at tackling unemployment, poverty, and environmental degradation through green entrepreneurship.
Organised by the Green Africa Youth Organisation Eco-Club Campus Chapters, the conference served as a platform for youth-led climate enterprises across Africa to showcase innovative solutions in climate action, recycling, waste management, and sustainable development.
Held under the theme, “Bridge, Build, Bankable: An Intergenerational Dealroom for Youth-Led Climate Enterprises for Africa’s Green Transition,” the event focused on connecting young climate innovators with investors, mentors, and policymakers to help scale their ideas into sustainable businesses.
Speaking at the conference, Climate Director of GAYO, Baliqees Salaudeen-Ibrahim, described ecopreneurship as a critical pathway for addressing growing environmental and economic challenges. She stressed the importance of empowering young people to transform environmental problems into business opportunities capable of driving Africa’s green transition.
She noted that the informal sector remains one of Africa’s largest sources of employment, particularly in agriculture and waste management, but is often undervalued. According to her, GAYO is working to reposition the sector as an attractive and innovative space for young entrepreneurs.
Ghanaian musician and climate advocate Okyeame Kwame encouraged young Africans to view climate change not as a crisis alone, but as an economic opportunity capable of generating globally competitive businesses.
He called on African governments to introduce supportive policies and investments that would attract more youth into eco-entrepreneurship while urging citizens to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles.
Also addressing participants, Ghana’s Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, commended the youth-led innovations showcased at the conference and pledged government support through the Green Jobs Initiative.
He praised GAYO for creating a platform that empowers young people to transform waste materials into productive resources while addressing youth unemployment and environmental challenges simultaneously.
The conference, funded by GAYO, the UIM Fund, and KNUST, also featured exhibitions and pitch sessions where youth environmental leaders competed for financial support to help scale their projects and create lasting impacts within their communities.
DYEC 2026 highlighted the growing role of Africa’s youth in championing climate innovation and demonstrated how green entrepreneurship is emerging as a key driver of sustainable development and job creation across the continent.
