Cambridge: President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who also serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, delivered a presidential lecture at the Africa Together Conference 2026 at the University of Cambridge, urging African nations to pursue strategic leadership, strengthen institutions, and make bold decisions in a rapidly changing world.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, President Bio spoke on the theme, ‘Africa in an Age of Disruption: Power, Agency and Strategic Choice,’ reflecting on Africa’s historical journey and stressing the need for the continent to move beyond dependency and act with greater confidence in shaping the global future.
Addressing scholars, students, members of the African diaspora, and other distinguished guests, he described the current era as one marked by rapid technological change, climate pressure, geopolitical fragmentation, and democratic fragility. He cautioned that Africa’s greatest danger is not disruption itself, but facing it witho
ut strategic agency.
Drawing on Sierra Leone’s own experience, President Bio recalled the country’s civil conflict and its transition from military rule to democratic governance in 1996. He said genuine leadership is not about taking power, but about submitting power to constitutional order.
As President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bio mentioned that disruption is no longer theoretical for Africa. He pointed to unconstitutional changes of government, violent extremism, economic shocks, disinformation, and climate insecurity as major challenges confronting West Africa.
President Bio also highlighted key reforms undertaken in Sierra Leone since 2018, including the Free Quality Education Programme, expanded healthcare services, women’s empowerment initiatives, agricultural transformation through the Feed Salone Programme, and investments in youth employment, technology, and public sector reform.
He emphasized that human capital development remains Africa’s most important long-term inves
tment, adding that lasting transformation will require strong institutions and accountable leadership.
Looking ahead, the President identified three critical areas that will shape Africa’s future: technology and digital sovereignty, economic transformation, and climate resilience. He called on African countries to become creators and owners of technology rather than passive consumers, especially in the field of artificial intelligence.
President Bio declared, ‘Africa must not only adapt to the future of Artificial Intelligence. Africa must help shape it.’
He also called for stronger partnerships between African institutions and global academic centres such as Cambridge, based on mutual respect and shared knowledge creation rather than inherited hierarchies. He further urged the African diaspora to play a more active role in the continent’s transformation through investment, mentorship, innovation, and knowledge exchange.
In his concluding remarks, he used the image of a communal African fire to underscore
the importance of intergenerational leadership, wisdom, and continuity. He encouraged Africa’s younger generation to take responsibility for shaping the future rather than simply inheriting it.
President Bio concluded with a poignant question, ‘History is already moving. The question is whether Africa will move as an Author or as an Observer.’