YAFM Radio will host its inaugural Schools & Innovation Fair 2026 on 27 March at Gresham Primary School, positioning schools as key drivers of local and national economic development.
The event, organised by YAFM Radio under the theme “Showcasing the Schools Economy,” will bring together learners, educators, industry players and financiers to highlight how schools are contributing to Zimbabwe’s productive sectors through skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation.
YAFM General Manager Ebson Hungwe said the Fair recognises schools as more than centres of learning, describing them as incubators of the country’s future workforce and entrepreneurs.
“The Schools & Innovation Fair seeks to move beyond theory and showcase tangible outcomes of education,” Hungwe said. “We want to make the role of schools visible, viable and vibrant by celebrating real projects, connecting schools with industry and finance, and inspiring learners to explore multiple career pathways.”
More than 4,000 learners from across the Great Dyke are expected to be represented. Participating schools will exhibit live projects ranging from agricultural nurseries, tailoring and woodworking enterprises to technology and innovation hubs, effectively turning exhibition stands into interactive marketplaces.
Major mining companies operating along the Great Dyke, together with schools they support, are set to participate, showcasing outcomes of education-focused community investments. Banks, agribusinesses, seed and fertiliser suppliers, solar and borehole service providers, construction firms, technical colleges, vocational centres and universities will also be present, offering funding desks, career guidance, bursary information and partnership opportunities.
Government officials, education authorities and community leaders are expected to engage in discussions on sustainability, skills development and local economic planning during the event.
YAFM will broadcast the Fair live and provide extensive social media coverage, linking on-site innovations to its audience of more than 1.5 million listeners.
The Fair comes amid growing recognition of education’s economic impact. Education contributes an estimated US$2.1 billion—about 4 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP—reinforcing the idea that schools form an economy in their own right. In the Great Dyke, this contribution is amplified by strong linkages between schools, mining-led development initiatives and Education 5.0-driven income-generating projects.
Organisers say the Schools & Innovation Fair 2026 aims to position schools at the centre of the Great Dyke’s socio-economic ecosystem, while inviting industry and development partners to invest directly in Zimbabwe’s future skills base and entrepreneurship pipeline.
