Nizar Chaari, founder of Epik Leaders, outlines his strategy: to train young people to think globally, act locally and transform Africa through their vision.
From the ‘Welcome Fest’ student mobilisation campaign in Morocco to expansion in Tunisia and Mali, and the imminent organisation of the Arab-African Summit on Non-Profit Financing in Rabat, Dr Nizar Chaari, founder of Epik Leaders, outlines his strategic vision: to train young people who think globally, act locally and transform Africa not through resources, but through ethical leadership, armed with the tools of artificial intelligence and mindful of societal impact.
You have launched an initiative called ‘Welcome Fest’ for Moroccan youth. What are its main objectives?
‘Welcome Fest’ is the central element of our 2025-2026 plan, which aims to create 100 student leadership clubs in Morocco and others in Africa. When we started this adventure with the president of Epik Leaders, Mahmoud Cherkaoui, we wanted to transform universities into laboratories of action where young people develop, finance and implement concrete projects. The aim is to develop their leadership skills and anchor them in the social and economic reality of the continent, making them agents of transformation.
How is your association organised to ensure that inventions, innovations and prototypes have a societal impact?
This is integrated into the design of our programmes. We first draw on the deep motivations of each participant: thanks to our Innermetrix® psychometric tool, we ensure that the projects developed are rooted in a desire for civic engagement and social utility.
We have also structured an incubation partnership with players such as Technopark, which connects our young people with entrepreneurs and the innovation ecosystem. Each prototype or invention is evaluated not only for its feasibility, but also for its social or environmental potential.
Finally, we adopt a utility-based evaluation: the success of a project is measured by its ability to solve a real problem, not solely by its economic profitability. It is this approach that we will promote through the EPIK 100 awards, which in January 2026 will recognise initiatives with a strong impact on society.
Do you have any concrete examples of these achievements?
Absolutely! The latest EPIK Summer Academy in June was a breeding ground for innovations with a strong societal impact. The academics presented a wide variety of concrete projects, including digital solutions for recycling and the circular economy, regional marketing initiatives to promote forgotten regions, and platforms promoting more inclusive tourism.
These solutions can be immediately integrated into the CSR strategy of large companies. During the academy, our partner Concentrix opened its premises and made its own internal management coaches available to train the young people. This is an extraordinary insight into the real world of work, which proves the relevance and immediate applicability of their projects.
What is the status of your initiative in the countries that are joining your network (Tunisia, Senegal, Comoros, Mali, etc.)?
The roll-out is in full swing, which is very encouraging! Tunisia has already opened its national coordination office and has begun opening clubs in its universities. Mali will inaugurate its first four clubs on 20 October 2025, marking a major milestone. The Comoros is in the process of structuring itself, with very promising discussions between young people living on the islands and the Comorian diaspora to establish clubs both inside and outside the country.
Other countries are in the advanced preparatory phase for imminent openings, including Gabon, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Nigeria. The goal is to form the largest pan-African student leadership network.
You are announcing an Arab-African summit on financing the non-profit sector on 20 November in Rabat. What is at stake, and what can we realistically expect from this event?
The challenge is clear: to secure and sustain civic action on both our continents. The non-profit sector is an essential pillar of development, but it remains too often weakened by unstable and ad hoc funding.
First, we want to identify innovative solutions, whether they involve social impact investing, Islamic finance or public-private partnerships dedicated to non-profit initiatives.
We also want to strengthen coordination between Arab and African actors by creating a permanent platform for exchange and knowledge sharing.
Finally, we want concrete results.
This Summit will not be a simple seminar: it will result in the publication of a White Paper defining a common roadmap for resilient financing, and the launch of cross-border pilot initiatives. These projects will test the financing mechanisms developed together in the field.
A recent World Bank note suggests that start-up financing in Africa suffers from great disparity. What role does EPIK Leaders play in correcting this?
The problem in Africa is not so much a lack of resources as a lack of leadership that remains and is involved locally. Capital naturally follows true leaders.
At EPIK Leaders, our role is to create these leaders: individuals who think globally but act locally. We are training a generation capable of finding pragmatic and effective solutions to the problems of today and tomorrow. We are creating massive synergies between young people from different countries so that they can follow best practices, develop smart and innovative solutions, and make a long-term commitment to the development of their nation. Our product is impactful leadership.
Artificial Intelligence is currently the subject of much discussion. Beyond the hype, are future ‘leaders’ concerned about its challenges and applications?
Artificial intelligence is an absolute strategic priority. It is an integral part of our educational approach and our vision of African leadership. We have created an internal think tank dedicated to AI; this committee develops concrete tools. It has already designed and integrated intelligent chatbots on our website (epikleaders.org) and social networks to support young people interested in our programmes and facilitate access to information.
We are also working on the development of a next-generation application, an integrated growth stack platform combining EdTech (education) and HRTech (human resources) with a strong artificial intelligence component.
EPIK Leaders operates as a non-profit start-up: we create scalable tools with high added value. We call on all those who are passionate about youth, Africa, education and employability to join us and support us in every way possible, because it is by investing in these leaders that we will secure the future of the continent.
To find out more about the Arab-African Summit on Financing the Non-Profit Sector, click HERE.
