The West African nation of Ghana hosted 40 young leaders from across sub-Saharan Africa this weekend, as they attended a two-day event sponsored by Facebook to focus on the continent’s digital future.

The participants from 15 different countries were holding coding workshops for students in Accra and mentoring sessions for up-and-coming entrepreneurs and small business owners. They hail from Madagascar, Senegal, Botswana and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.

The “Icons of Change” event guests included Martin Beck Nworah, who manages a Facebook group with more than 100,000 members devoted to stories from Nigeria, and Gameli Adzaho, the founder of Global Lab Ghana, a community for those interested in science and research to benefit human development.

They also include the founder of FasoPro, a company that sells African insects as an alternative source of protein in some 25 cities across Burkina Faso, with caterpillars native to Burkina Faso and crickets from Niger.

“At Facebook, we see our role as supporting and investing in various communities here on the continent, in particular the youth,” said Kezia Anim-Addo, Facebook community manager for sub-Saharan Africa. “This event is about celebrating those people, the amazing talent, innovation and businesses we’re seeing emerge, and the young people who are accelerating this growth, and building an incredible future for the continent.”

Image: Gameli Adzaho