Africa Policy Conversations (AfPC) Initiative, a youth-focused and women-led non-profit organisation based in Nigeria, is leading discussions on measures the continent should take to push Africa’s economic rebirth for inclusive growth.
This was the focus of the African Economic Empowerment Summit, a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) side event, organised by AfPC on September 22, 2023 in New York.
The event with the theme, ‘African Economic Empowerment’, organised in partnership with OVG (a black empowerment movement) and the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, brought together forward-thinking leaders, experts, and influential voices to collectively chart a brighter future for Africa.
The summit went beyond traditional discussions and focused on immediate action. The panel discussions centered on crucial themes such as ‘Financing Innovation: The Opportunities in AI, Fintech, Afrobeats and More’, ‘Strengthening Institutions in Africa and Building the Right Foundation for Development and Inclusive Growth’, ‘Rethinking Finance, Philanthropy and Diaspora Investments in Africa’, and ‘Energising Africa’s Future: Powering Progress while Embracing Green Growth’.
Delivering a keynote at the event, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation, and strategic investments in driving economic empowerment in the country and the continent.
He further stressed the need to create a conducive business environment to support entrepreneurship, and the need for investments in education and skills development.
While speaking at the event, the Founding Partner of Future Africa, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, advised participants to look at the opportunities in challenges and leverage innovation and finance in solving Africa’s problems.
Looking at the issues facing the continent, Partner, Head of West Africa Financial Services at McKinsey & Company, Mayowa Kuyoro, stated that Africa as a continent had only experienced a 1.1 per cent increase in per capita GDP between 1960 and 2019.
She added that intra-African trade stands at about 16 per cent, compared to the trade between African countries and the rest of the world.
From the discussions, a common consensus pointed to the fact that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has become one of the most amazing things to come out of the continent in the next decade to connect African countries and solve the issues facing financing, development and economic empowerment.
Other notable panelists and moderators at the summit were Founder of Yaiga Africa, Samson Itodo, Director of Foundation Operations of MJHS Foundation, Chinwe Egonu, Co-founder, AfPC and Senior Community Manager, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Jackie Ugokwe, Founder, InfraNergy, and Nexus Sea, Partner of O’Melveny & Myers and Founder, Naija We Can, Uche Isiugo, but to mention a few.
The Co-founder and Co-convener of AfPC, Chinenye Uwanaka, said as part of the next steps, the event will advocate for capacity building training for leaders; both policy-makers and law-makers on the need to have game-changing legislation in the country and by extension in Africa.
The Africa Policy Conversations (AfPC) Initiative has offices in Nigeria, South Africa and the United States and remains committed to transforming policies in Nigeria and in Africa.
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