Global Leaders Convene in Seville to Chart a New Course for African Prosperity Through Entrepreneurship Education
Seville, Spain – March 19-21, 2026 – This week, the historic city of Seville became the epicenter of a vital global dialogue, hosting a high-level conference titled “Investing in the Future of Africa: Templetonian Entrepreneurship Education.” The three-day gathering brought together a distinguished group of economists, educators, university leaders, and policymakers to forge a new path for the continent’s development, centered on the power of free markets and entrepreneurial innovation.
The event, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation, convened thinkers and practitioners from world-class institutions including Princeton University, the University of Oxford, Babson College, and Georgetown University, alongside the leaders of a new wave of African universities and think tanks.
The conference opened with a stark yet hopeful framing of the stakes. A quote from economist Deirdre Nansen McCloskey set the tone: “What will matter in fifty years in economic history is poverty and its ending, and in political history what will matter is tyranny and its ending. If poverty and tyranny are ended, the rest follows.”
The program was structured to move from diagnosis to action. The first day tackled the broad “Challenges and Possibilities for Africa,” featuring a plenary by Leonard Wantchekon, founder of the African School of Economics. A session on “Jesuit Universities in Africa: Values and Hopes for the Future” highlighted the role of faith-based institutions in cultivating ethical leadership. Among the speakers was Fr. Francois Pazisnewende Kabore, Rector of the new Kosyam Jesuit University of Science in Burkina Faso, who discussed the practical work of building institutions that can drive innovation from within the continent.
Subsequent panels dove into the nitty-gritty of higher education reform, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and the crucial task of “Advocacy for Africa: Setting the Record Straight.” Leaders from organizations like ANDE (Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs) and the Rising Tide Foundation joined academics to discuss how to translate ideas into tangible support for small and growing businesses.
A unique element of the conference was its integration of immersive local experiences. Participants set aside their discussions for guided tours of Seville’s iconic Cathedral and the Alcázar palace, and enjoyed group dinners at local favorites like El Favorito and Eslava, fostering the informal connections that often lead to lasting collaboration. The schedule also included a workshop on “Generating ideas,” demonstrating a commitment to actionable outcomes over mere talk.
The roster of speakers underscored the conference’s interdisciplinary and international scope. Prominent figures included:
· Leonard Wantchekon (Princeton University), a leading voice in African political economy.
· Diana Hechavarria (Babson College), a top researcher in global entrepreneurship.
· Magatte Wade (Atlas Network), a bestselling author and prominent advocate for African prosperity, whose work has garnered millions of views and international media attention.
· Kurtis Lockhart (University of Oxford), an expert on institutional reform in sub-Saharan Africa.
· Mwenda Ntarangwi (United States International University-Africa) and Robert Kirunda (Makerere University), representing the leadership of African higher education.
· Gabriel Calzada, founder of the newly established Universidad de las Hespérides in Spain, which hosted much of the event’s programming.
Gregory Wolcott, Director of Individual Freedom and Free Markets at the John Templeton Foundation, guided the proceedings, framing the discussions around a central question: “How might freedom foster space for people to flourish both as individuals and as members of communities?”
As the conference concluded on Saturday, March 21st, the message was clear: the future of Africa will not be written by outside forces, but by a new generation of leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs equipped with the tools of innovation and a deep understanding of the principles that allow human creativity to thrive. The conversations in Seville laid the groundwork for a network of institutions committed to making that future a reality.
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