WhatNext Conversations

1997@30: Turning an Anniversary into a Legacy 11 September 2026 In 2027, members of the Class of 1997 will mark thirty years since completing secondary school. Thirty years is a significant milestone: a natural moment to remember, reconnect, celebrate how far we have come and reflect on the people, institutions and experiences that helped shape our journeys. But we believe it can also become something more. What if this anniversary became an opportunity not only to look back, but also to reach back? What if, thirty years after our own secondary-school journey, members of the Class of 1997 intentionally reconnected with the schools and communities that helped form us and contributed to preparing the Class of 2027 for what comes next? Today, 11 September 2026 , WhatNext Africa formally launches the 1997@30 Global Reach-Back Legacy Initiative , a structured effort to connect the Class of 1997 with the Class of 2027 , beginning with our former schools and exploring practical way...

SHARPENING THE SAW (STS) WEEKEND The Missing Link What connects learning to a meaningful future? Warm greetings! We often speak about education, skills and opportunity as though they naturally lead to one another. A young person goes to school, acquires knowledge, develops a skill, obtains a qualification and eventually finds a productive place in the world. But the journey is rarely that straightforward. Between learning and earning, between preparation and participation, between what a person knows and what they are able to contribute, there is often a missing link. That question has received renewed attention in Nigeria this week. A pre-summit dialogue convened by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning focused on “The Missing Link: From Learning to Earning.” The discussion examined the gaps between education, skills development and access t...

Congratulations, 2025 Batch B Stream II Corps Members! Congratulations, 2025 Batch B Stream II corps members, on the successful completion of your National Service. Today marks the end of an important chapter - a year of service, learning, responsibility, relationships, challenges and growth. But the end of National Service is also the beginning of another transition. For some, the next step will be employment. For others, further education, entrepreneurship, professional development, or an entirely different path. Whatever comes next, the question is no longer simply “What Next?” but “Are you ready for it?” At WhatNext Africa , we believe that transitions are better navigated when they are anticipated and prepared for. So, as you celebrate this milestone, take a moment to look ahead. Reflect on what you have learned. Take stock of what you have built. Identify where you want to go - and begin prepa...

September: When “What Next?” Becomes Real There are months that simply pass. And then there are months in which the calendar seems to move at the same time as life. September is one of them. For millions of learners, families, educators, institutions, graduates, job seekers and employers, something is beginning to happen. A new academic year is opening across significant parts of the education ecosystem. Students are moving into new classes, programmes and institutions. School leavers are making, or preparing to make, consequential decisions about what comes after secondary school. Undergraduates are entering new stages of their academic journeys. And beyond the classroom, the labour market is moving too. For many organisations, the final quarter brings renewed workforce planning, recruitment and talent-acquisition activity. For graduates and emerging professionals, opportunities begin to appear — and with them comes the familiar question: What next? But...