The Innovate Africa Foundation is set to host the inaugural World Product Day Lagos on May 21, bringing together a cross-section of Africa’s tech ecosystem to highlight local innovation and expand access to job opportunities in product development.

The event aims to connect product managers, designers, engineers, founders, and job seekers across the continent, while emphasizing product innovation as a tool for addressing Africa’s unique development needs.

Designed as more than a typical conference, World Product Day Lagos will feature workshops, thought leadership sessions, and a curated job fair that links attendees to hiring startups and established tech companies offering roles in product management, UX design, and software engineering.

“Africa is full of brilliant minds building quietly in corners — this event shines a light on them,” said Tina Mbachu, Executive Director of Innovate Africa Foundation. “We’re not just consuming global tech anymore — we’re creating what the world needs.”

One of the event’s main attractions will be the Enterprise Innovation Hackathon Finale, where teams will pitch real-world solutions to enterprise challenges. The program also includes practical sessions on customer discovery, design for scale, and product-led growth—focusing on how African innovators can create scalable, user-centred products.

“Whether you’re building fintech, agri-tech, or health-tech, this is a space to gain tools, community, and clarity,” said Kristine, Co-Executive Director of the foundation. “We’re nurturing the builders of Africa’s digital future.”

By centring product-led growth and user-driven design, the event distinguishes itself from general tech expos, with sessions tailored to Africa’s socio-economic context and market realities.

*World Product Day Lagos* is open to product professionals, entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, job seekers, and policymakers working to shape Africa’s digital economy.

The event reflects Innovate Africa Foundation’s broader mission to drive innovation-led growth on the continent. The nonprofit works to equip emerging talent with relevant digital skills and supports entrepreneurs through mentorship, training, and strategic funding.

“Our work is about more than promoting innovation — we’re actively building ecosystems that connect talent to opportunity,” Mbachu added.

With this first edition of *World Product Day* in Lagos, the foundation seeks to catalyse collaboration and spark solutions that contribute to sustainable development across Africa.