Today we’re meeting with Dr. Yanick Kemayou, co-founder and Chief lLearning oOfficer of Kabakoo Academies to discuss the role of communities in institutional innovation.
Kabakoo, an EdTech platform, empowers young Africans with learning opportunities, combining high-tech and indigenous knowledge to collaboratively solve real-life challenges.
For Kemayou, institutional innovation isn’t just important—it’s urgent.
Today’s institutions are struggling to keep up with overlapping crises, from economic instability to rapid technological change.
But institutions don’t have to lag behind, they can be able to adapt instead of just react.
For that to happen, innovation must come from both new technologies and local knowledge. Kemayou believes that stronger institutions start with stronger communities—giving people the tools and voice to shape solutions that work for them.
At Kabakoo Academies, they call this approach “highdigenous”—where modern technology and indigenous knowledge come together to create smarter, more relevant solutions.
Because the best ideas don’t come from the top down.
They come from the people who live the challenges—and are ready to build the future, together.
His work in digital skills and livelihoods in West Africa has shown him the real challenges – few job opportunities, economic uncertainty, and climate risks but also how technology and local wisdom can open new doors.
About the Istanbul Innovation Days 2025
The Istanbul Innovation Days 2025 convenes global leaders, thinkers, and innovators who are shaping institutional change and resilience in an increasingly complex world.
This short series highlights key voices exploring the pressures driving institutional evolution and the barriers that stand in the way.
From real-world examples to the challenge of anticipating crises before they unfold, these discussions explore how institutions can adapt to meet the demands of the future.
