Folly Bah Thibault and Larry Madowo, will serve as the esteemed moderators for an exclusive two-day forum dedicated to exploring the future of Africa.
The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) has unveiled its agenda and lineup for the upcoming two-day event coinciding with the UN General Assembly in New York, scheduled for September 25-26. This year's theme, "Unstoppable Africa: The Solution for a Global Future," aims to convene key figures from both public and private sectors to enhance Africa's influence in developing global business solutions.
This year's forum will occur in conjunction with the Summit of the Future, a significant gathering of the UN General Assembly.
A pivotal aspect of this event is the newly formed strategic alliance between the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the African Union Commission, which seeks to harness Africa's business capabilities to promote sustainable development. This collaboration is designed to support Agenda 2063 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2024 GABI event, themed "Unstoppable Africa: The Solution for a Global Future," will not only showcase Africa’s economic resilience and immense potential but will also serve as a forum for innovative and actionable solutions to pressing global issues. Topics will include energy transitions, ensuring sustainable energy access, advancing digital transformation across various sectors, and fostering inclusive growth, thereby positioning Africa as a frontrunner in the global quest for a fairer and more sustainable future.
Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, which convenes GABI, commented, “With a market valued at over $3 trillion, Africa is poised for unprecedented growth and development. Africa’s GDP growth rate is expected to outpace the global average, with projections of 3.8% in 2024 and 4.2% in 2025.
“GABI was born from a powerful realization: the world has been doing business in Africa, but not always with Africa. We stand to rebalance that equation. GABI isn't just another forum; we are a solution-oriented platform dedicated to shaping Africa’s business future. Our mission is clear: Convene, Connect, Catalyze, and Convey. We convene stakeholders to address Africa's unique challenges, connect Africa’s private sector with global partners, catalyze sustainable growth through collaboration, and convey support for initiatives that deliver real results.
“Unstoppable Africa will bring together Africa’s brightest minds and global leaders to collaborate on sustainable solutions. When Africa wins, the world wins. Africa is ready to lead, and GABI is where Africa meets the world's political, business, and philanthropic leaders.”
This year, the event will focus on several key themes that address Africa's growing role in shaping the global future:
- Unlocking Inclusive Growth through Trade: Africa’s vast economic potential is increasingly tied to the development of inclusive trade systems that benefit all sectors of society. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) set to transform intra-African trade, the event will explore how policymakers and business leaders can capitalize on this agreement to spur economic growth, reduce poverty, and create jobs.
- Africa: The Solution for Clean Energy: Leaders in the energy sector will discuss the continent’s unique ability to leapfrog into renewable energy solutions, overcoming the barriers of outdated infrastructure and delivering modern energy access to millions.
- Africa’s Digital Revolution: Sessions on digital transformation will explore Africa’s rapid advancements in technology, from fintech to AI, and how these technological advances are enabling the continent to bridge gaps in education, healthcare, and trade.
- Sport: And the Winner Is… Africa! Africa’s sports industry is emerging as a powerful driver of socio-economic transformation. From football to track, African athletes continue to make their mark on the world stage, and discussions will focus on building sports ecosystems that develop talent, attract investments, and foster national pride.
- African Creativity for the World: The event will shine a spotlight on Africa’s cultural powerhouses—its creative industries and sports sectors—which are becoming major economic drivers. On Thursday, 26 September, GABI will host a special film showcase titled "Bold Stories" dedicated to celebrating the transformative power of African women filmmakers in the entertainment industry.
Unstoppable Africa will be hosted by Folly Bah Thibault from Aljazeera English and Larry Madowo from CNN and is supported by African Union, Afreximbank, BUA, Flour Mills Nigeria, Google, Rockefeller Foundation, Safaricom, and Summa Group among others.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General
- Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
- Aliko Dangote, Founder, CEO, and Chairman, Dangote Group
- Selim Bora, Chair, Summa International Construction
- Makhtar Diop, Managing Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- Mo Abudu, CEO, Ebony Life Group
- Claire Akamanzi, CEO, NBA Africa
- Sara Sabry, Africa’s first female astronaut
- Masai Ujiri, President, Toronto Raptors
- James Manyika, SVP of Technology and Society, Google-Alphabet
- Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA
- Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO, Axian Group
To attend the Unstoppable Africa 2024 event in-person in New York, attendees are invited to register here: https://apo-opa.co/4dOQNUR.
For more information on the Global Africa Business Initiative, visit the website: www.GABI.