The United States of America’s President’s Advisory Council on Africa Diaspora Engagement (PAC-ADE) has charged African entrepreneurs to remain resilient and strive towards the growth and development of the continent.
This was stated by members of the council during a visit to the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in Lagos, as part of the council’s tour of the country. Speaking during a session with TEF Alumnis, the United States Consul General, Will Stevens, stated the readiness of the American government to support young entrepreneurs on the continent particularly in Nigeria.
According to him, there is a need to build a relationship that is beyond helping the continent but rather seeing Africa as a partner in shaping the future of the world. Noting that by 2050, one out of four people on the planet would be African or of African descent, he said “as Americans, we need to get it right. We need to build a relationship that is more than how we are helping you and it becomes what can we do together?
“So fighting for and getting the African Union to have a seat at the G20, working together to force institutions globally to ensure that Africa has a seat in shaping the future. And you see this with Nigeria in particular. For example, as we put together the rules of the road on AI, Nigeria has been a key part of those conversations with sort of the informal and behind the scenes conversations and now at the UN and other places, ensuring that African voices are heard in shaping the rules of the road. For the future, because it is the future.”
On her part, a member of the PAC-ADE and a WNBA All-Star, ESPN host and NBA analyst, Chinenye Ogwumike, charged entrepreneurs to be bold in launching out and create the space for themselves to thrive.
The 2-time WNBA All-Star for the Los Angeles Sparks, whilst encouraging young women said “I always tell people to be a black woman in any space, particularly a space where you’re striving to succeed, a place where you know the systems are not necessarily built for you to succeed.
You have to create that space yourself.”
Also, Co-founder & CEO of African fintech giant, Chipper Cash, Ham Serunjogi, whilst urging young Africa entrepreneurs to share experiences and support each other said “if there is one thing that we can do well in our company to do things that help and create opportunities that other people can also leverage on.”
