Many of the African Countries have entered the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals enduring recurrent climatic shock, persistent challenges from acute and chronic food and nutrition insecurity., and in some countries, unrelenting civil conflict. The current situation has been worsened by the negative health and socioeconomic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in February/March 2020 and the imminent measures to curb its spread affected the national economies.  The pandemic has also exposed opportunities for innovation particularly in the health and digital innovation. The Conference is coming at an opportune time when innovation scholars can deliberate on post-COVID development agenda for Africa.