OXFORD, England – Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 16th Oxford Africa Conference, scheduled for May 16–17, 2026, at the University of Oxford.
The two-day event, organized by the Oxford University Africa Society, will convene policymakers, business leaders, academics, and cultural figures to discuss Africa’s future under the theme “Anchoring Africa: Grounded Leadership in the Age of Disruption.”
Weah, Liberia’s 25th president from 2018 to 2024, is widely recognized for his dual legacy in global sport and public service. Born in Monrovia in 1966, he rose from humble beginnings to become the only African to win both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995. He was later named African Player of the Century.
Beyond football, Weah has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and, in 2024, was appointed chair of FIFA’s Committee Against Racism and Discrimination. His keynote is expected to emphasize resilience and inclusivity in leadership.
Other prominent speakers include Ron Chari, executive director of the Chandler Institute of Justice, whose career spans infrastructure, energy, and finance across more than 30 African countries; Sir John Lazar, co-founder of Enza Capital and president of the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering; and Peace Hyde, award-winning journalist and creator of Netflix’s Young, Famous and African.
The conference will feature discussions on governance, entrepreneurship, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and culture. New initiatives include the Graduate Pathways Programme, connecting African students with leading employers, and the Innovation Seed Fund, designed to support startups and community projects.
Now in its 16th edition, the Oxford Africa Conference has previously hosted leaders such as Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who delivered the keynote in 2025.
Organizers say this year’s gathering aims to provide a platform for dialogue that extends beyond Oxford, shaping Africa’s response to rapid political, economic, and technological change.
