Organized in Agadir by the newly established pan-African organization EPIK Leaders, the Summer Academy officially opened on June 23 with a ceremony bringing together 200 young participants from across Morocco and 15 African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Tunisia.

Following this large-scale kickoff, a select group of 40 young leaders took part in an immersive, week-long program combining leadership training, design thinking workshops, professional site visits, cultural cafés, and pitch sessions.

Rooted in a "learning by doing" philosophy, the experience was designed to foster critical skills, collaborative leadership, and a strong sense of shared purpose and civic responsibility.

By combining training, experimentation, and cooperation, this inaugural edition fully embodies EPIK Leaders' mission: to empower a new generation capable of navigating the complexities of a rapidly changing world - one shaped by artificial intelligence, geopolitical shifts, and urgent social challenges.
Voices from the Academy

"This week was more than just an academy. It was a springboard." – Dr. Nizar Chaari, Founder of EPIK Leaders

 "Thanks to your commitment, your exchanges, and the maturity of your projects, you've laid the foundations for what will become the national office - and soon the international bureau - of EPIK. What we're building together is more than a program. It's a movement."

"What you experienced this week wasn't just training. It was a human, collective, and deeply transformative experience. You learned to listen, to question, to grow - together. Keep embodying what you're becoming." - Dorra Baltagi, Training Director, EPIK Summer Academy

"Agadir was not a logistical choice - it was a strategic one. The Souss-Massa region is today one of Morocco's key hubs for African development. This academy is a way to connect local potential with continental momentum, and to ground a pan-African ambition in a place of growth, commitment, and openness."  Mahmoud Cherkaoui, President, EPIK Leaders
What's next: Scaling the movement

In September 2025, EPIK Leaders will launch the "EPIK Leaders Welcome Fest" - a national tour to reactivate its existing university clubs, welcome new members, and establish a network of 100 active clubs by the end of the year. The program includes open houses, cultural meetups, and sports and social activities - all part of a vibrant, youth-led and community-driven initiative across Morocco.
About EPIK Leaders

EPIK Leaders is a pan-African organization committed to empowering a new generation of African leaders. Through its academies, university clubs, and training programs, it equips young people with the skills, networks, and mindset needed to lead and impact their communities. EPIK Leaders is supported by its official sponsors Concentrix and Pharma5, and by institutional partners including ICF, Technopark, and Ibn Zohr University.