Dr Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State and Executive Chairman of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, has been invited to deliver the 16th Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture in Cape Town, South Africa.

The invitation was conveyed in a letter dated May 1, 2026, and signed by former South African President and Patron of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Thabo Mbeki.

Africa Day is celebrated across the continent on May 25 every year. For 16 years, the Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture has served as an important flagship platform for African reflection, dialogue and continental engagement and the 16th edition is taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, under the theme – “Rebuilding African Unity in an Age of Fragmentation – Sovereignty, Solidarity and the Renewal of Institutions. “

Previous speakers at the Annual event include President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania; former Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity, Salim Ahmed Salim; Professors Mahmood Mamdani of Uganda, Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal and Toyin Falola of Nigeria, amongst others.

A renowned pan-Africanist, Dr Fayemi has been active in African policy, activist and government circles for the last four decades and more so lately in advocating for Africa’s active involvement in the changing global order.

He is currently a Professor at the African Leadership Centre in the School of Global Affairs, King’s College London and also President of the Forum of Regions of Africa – a pan-African forum of sub-sovereign states.

Signed
Mallam Ahmad Sajoh
Head, the Fayemi Media Office, Abuja
May 19th, 2026