Henley Business School, University of Reading, has officially launched its Africa Research Centre (ARC).

The centre was launched on Thursday May 29, 2025, at Semicolon Village in Yaba, Lagos, ushering in a new chapter for entrepreneurship, innovation, and academic research across West Africa.

The landmark event, themed “The State of the Nigerian Entrepreneurship Ecosystem,” drew together key figures from academia, industry, and international development for an evening of reflection, strategic dialogue, and renewed commitment to collaboration across the continent.

Attendees were welcomed by Sam Immanuel, CEO of Semicolon Africa, followed by opening remarks from Dr. Adeyinka Adewale, Director of the newly launched ARC. Jean-Pierre Choulet, Director of Strategic Operations & Projects at Henley Business School, delivered a keynote address on the significance of Africa in Henley’s global strategy.

Dr. Adewale offered a comprehensive presentation showcasing six years of ARC’s work, including its research footprint, grant successes, and tangible policy contributions. He highlighted the need to move beyond isolated efforts and toward collaborative models for real, scalable impact—a sentiment that resonated deeply with the audience.

Among those in attendance was Elvis Boniface, CEO of Edugist, who noted, “It was a truly reflective evening and like the centre’s director, Adeyinka Adewale, PhD, admonished, we’ve worked in silos for so long, we must now learn to collaborate effectively for a bigger outcome. And I agree!”

The plenary session brought together influential thought leaders such as Sam Immanuel (Semicolon Africa), Dr. Okechukwu Amah (Lagos Business School), Dr. Paul Orajiaka (Auldon Toys Limited), Dr. Ismaeel Tharwat (The American University in Cairo), and Daniel Emenahor (British Council), moderated by Dr. Adewale. The panel explored challenges and emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with perspectives that cut across education, innovation, policy, and investment.

“I particularly love the mix of the speakers,” Boniface added. “Clearly, better days are ahead with the successful launch of the Africa Research Centre (ARC).”

The evening concluded with an interactive session and closing remarks from Dr. Adewale, who emphasized a forward-looking agenda centered on inclusive growth, innovation, and stronger cross-sectoral partnerships.

Boniface also reflected on Edugist’s ongoing contributions to youth-led innovation, noting that its innovation lab has supported over 33 university startups and reached more than 300,000 students across 30+ institutions nationwide through the Nigerian Student Venture Prize.

With the launch of the Africa Research Centre, Henley Business School signals a long-term commitment to shaping a future where African entrepreneurship is driven by evidence-based policy, impactful research, and a culture of collaboration that transcends borders.