African leaders gathered at the World Trade Center in New York City for the Africa Breakfast Combos, a high-profile event held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
Co-hosted by global communications firm Allison Worldwide and African public relations firm BHM, the breakfast brought together executives from African countries and across the United States to discuss strategies for sustainable development and economic growth across the continent. Ta.
In her opening remarks, Allison Worldwide’s Managing Director for Africa, Claudine Moore, emphasized the importance of leveraging communication and stakeholder engagement for Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
“By harnessing the power of communication and innovation, we can accelerate Africa’s socio-economic progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
Discussions at the event highlighted that Africa’s young population is a key driver of future growth, with approximately 70 percent of sub-Saharan Africans under the age of 30.
It is also predicted that by 2030, one-fifth of the world’s population will be African, underscoring the continent’s growing importance on the world stage.
The technology and finance panel featured insights from Future Africa’s Iyin Aboyeji. Tobe Okugbo from MTN Nigeria and Anie Akpe from African Women In Tech (AWIT). Expressing how impressive the continent’s business environment has become, Okigbo said, “African companies are not just solving local problems; African companies are solving local problems. They’re not just doing it; they’re turning a billion-dollar problem into a billion-dollar opportunity.”
Speaking about the opportunities available to the African diaspora, Mr. Aboyeji said: “The African diaspora has an opportunity to better coordinate its impact on the African continent by facilitating large-scale inflows that provide local value. The aggregation of remittances can be used to finance the establishment of sustainable infrastructure.”
The creative economy took center stage in a discussion led by Sam Onyemelukwe, Senior Vice President of Global Business Development at TRACE, and Ayo Animashaun, Founder and CEO of Smooth Promotions, Hip TV and The Headies. It became a hot topic.
Mr. Onyemerkwe highlighted the impact of African pop culture on the world and how African creative is shaping global trends and narratives. Animashone highlighted the economic potential of the creative industries, noting that the creative sector is a powerful driver of job creation and economic growth in Africa.
Commenting on the importance of the event, BHM Founder Ayeni Adekunle said: “This gathering is an opportunity to have relevant conversations about our continent. We offer our guests the space to have open conversations and share ideas with impactful initiatives that drive sustainable growth across Africa.” ”
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted Africa’s potential for investment and cooperation. Recent data from the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows that despite a difficult year in 2023, foreign direct investment flows to the continent remained relatively stable, accounting for just 3.5% of total global FDI. Although it was only a small amount, it remained at $48 billion.
