About Us
Our History
AETF is a Pan African private sector driven Education Trust Fund which was inaugurated in August 2022 in Accra Ghana but was later incorporated as an Education Trust Fund for Africa on 8th July 2024 as a company limited by guarantee under the Ghana Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992). AETF was originally established with three founding members namely Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS); Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PACCI) and the Association of African Universities (AAU) comprising over 400 universities across the continent of Africa.
The purpose of AETF is to raise funds towards the transformation process of the Africa’s Education system from Pre-Primary School to the Tertiary education level so that Africa can produce graduates that are industry-ready and with skill sets that can help with making Africa to industrialise and add value to the production of its resources instead of simply extracting raw materials with no value adding thus help towards the creation of the much needed jobs and economic growth of the Africa’s 55 countries.
The AETF has a plan or target of raising at least a $10 billion funds in the first two years say from 2025 -2026 and another $100 billion funds within the next ten years from 2025-2034.
AETF: Advancing Africa Through Education
Rooted in the vision of Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want, the Africa Education Trust Fund is a response to Africa’s need for a resilient, innovative, and inclusive education system. As Africa undergoes rapid structural, technological, and socio-economic transformations, AETF provides a platform to ensure that education remains a driver of development, peace, and prosperity.
Our Vision Aligns with Agenda 2063
We support the African Union’s flagship project, The African Virtual and E-University, which uses ICT to expand access to quality tertiary education and lifelong learning. This effort is vital for increasing youth participation in knowledge-based economies across the continent.
Our Story
The AETF was born out of a strategic partnership between the African Private Sector Summit (APSS), the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), based in 17 African nations, and the Association of African Universities (AAU). Together, they envisioned an initiative to integrate education, trade, and investment as core pillars of development across Africa.
On March 21, 2021, the three organizations signed a strategic partnership agreement to strengthen academia-private sector linkages. The Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS) was designated to coordinate the implementation of this vision. On February 3, 2022, an Organizing Committee of 15 eminent experts was inaugurated by Rev. Benjamin Acheampong under the chairmanship of Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.
Together, we are raising funds and launching initiatives to support human capacity development, academic scholarships, responsive curricula, and infrastructure across higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems in Africa.
Quote
“At the Africa Education Trust Fund, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities.”
Our Team
Chairman
Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah
Founder of Ghana Education Trust Fund, and former Minister of Education, Trade & Industry
Ghanaian National
Senior Advisors
Mr. Kebour Ghenna
Executive Director, Pan-African Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Addis Ababa
Ethiopian National
Mr. Judson Wendell Addy (RTD)
Former Chairman of the Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS)
Liberian/USA National
Prof. Dr. Raju Chandrasekar
Former Chancellor/Vice Chancellor of Universities in Africa and the Caribbean
Indian National
Executive Directors
Prof. Margaret King
Director, and Chair, HR and Nominations Committee, AETF Board || President/CEO, Global Institute of Planning and Sustainable Development, USA
Nigerian/USA National
Prof. Brahim El Bhiri
Director, AETF IT Research and Development || Professor of IT & Director, SMARTILAB
Moroccan National
Rev. Benjamin Acheampong
Director, Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS) || Group President/CEO, Wealth Masters Group
Ghanaian/British National
Management Team
Dr. John Binnie Kauya
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, CPA || Group MD, Global Business Network, Botswana
Malawian National
Prof. Amany El-Sherif
Vice-President, AETF || Vice President of Pan African University, AU
Egyptian National
Prof. Mrs. Goski Alabi
Director and Company Secretary, AETF || President Accra Metropolitan University, Ghana
Ghanaian National
Dr. Jeannine Uwimana-Nicol
Director, Stakeholder Relationships Management
Rwandan National
Peter Kwasi Kodjie
Representative of the All African’s Student Union (AASU) on AETF Board