2025 and 2026 Highlights - Africa
Dear Vegan Leader,
Greetings! I’m Sulaiman, Vegan Leaders in Corporate Management's Regional Engagement Manager for Africa, based in Gombe, Nigeria.
As we closed out 2025, I want to extend a massive thank you to our growing community across the continent. This has been a year of establishing strong foundations and proving that African innovation is at the heart of the global plant-based shift. From the North-East of Nigeria to the corporate hubs of South Africa and Kenya, the momentum for a sustainable, plant-based future is undeniable.
Missed our earlier updates? No worries, you can catch up here for all the editions on the VLCM website!
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🌍 UN FAO Global Recognition
June 16-18, 2025 Our region took center stage at the FAO Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference. I was honored to be one of the three Global Winners of the Young Biotech Innovation Challenge. My presentation on "Building Climate-Resilient Sorghum" underscored the critical role of localized, plant-based solutions in securing global food systems. This win secured scaling-up funding and connections with major global funders, proving that African plant-based innovation is a top-tier investment priority.
Building the Network
Throughout 2025, we have been working behind the scenes to connect vegan professionals in corporate management across Africa. We are bridging the gap between local climate activism and high-level corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies. You can request to connect with other vegans in your region here.
📍 Upcoming Events in Africa (2026)
We are tracking a vibrant calendar of events for the new year. Keep an eye out for these key dates:
● Lagos, Nigeria: Plant-Based Industry Networking Mixer - Thursday, March 26, 2026. RSVP to Sulaiman Abubakar Umar saumar@veganleaders.com if you would like to attend
● Cape Town, South Africa: Vegan Goods Market Regional Meet-up — February 2026
● Nairobi, Kenya: Sustainable Food Systems Summit — March 2026
● Accra, Ghana: West Africa Vegan Festival — April 2026
📣 African Corporate & Industry News
● Africa Plant Protein Market Growth: The African plant-based protein market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% through 2026, driven significantly by the expansion of meat-alternative sectors in South Africa and Nigeria.
● South Africa's Vegan Retail Expansion: Recent data shows that South African retailers are leading the continent in "Plant-Based Friendly" rankings, with a massive increase in private-label vegan products entering the corporate supply chain.
● Investment in African Agri-Tech: We are seeing a surge in "Agri-FoodTech" funding across the continent, with Kenya and Egypt emerging as hubs for startups focused on sustainable, plant-derived food security solutions.
🤝 Want to host a meet-up?
We are looking for volunteer leads in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, and Cairo to host local corporate vegan meetups in 2026. If you want to lead a gathering in your city, email me at saumar@veganleaders.com
Thank you for being part of Vegan Leaders Africa. Wishing you a revolutionary start to 2026!
Until next time
Sulaiman Abubakar Umar
Regional Engagement Manager - Africa
