Herbert Mensah to speak at Unstoppable Africa 2026

Herbert Mensah will represent rugby at Unstoppable Africa 2026, taking the sport’s perspective to a global discussion about how Africa can retain more of the economic value created by its athletes. The Rugby Africa president accepted an invitation from Sanda Ojiambo, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN Global Compact chief executive.

Mensah is scheduled to speak in New York on the afternoon of September 21 during “Real Value from the Field: Protecting and Profiting from Africa’s Talent Pipeline”. The session will examine transparent contracts, stronger recruitment practices and better regional leagues as ways to keep more value within Africa and channel it back into the schools, communities and institutions that develop sporting talent.

The event will take place on September 20 and 21 alongside the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Mensah also sits on World Rugby’s executive council and chairs World Rugby Regions, which brings together the leaders of the six continental rugby associations.

Organised by the UN Global Compact, the Global Africa Business Initiative has been held since 2022 as an international platform for African business, trade and investment. Its 2026 edition is expected to draw about 4,000 participants, including heads of state, Fortune 500 chief executives, investors and entrepreneurs. Rugby Africa governs the continent’s rugby and runs competitions including Rugby World Cup qualifiers and Africa Sevens.