UNGA79: African Business Leaders Champion Sustainable Development Opportunities

Prominent African leaders gathered at the World Trade Center in New York City for Africa Breakfast Convos, 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 company BHM, the breakfast meeting brought together executives from various African nations and across the U.S. to discuss strategies for sustainable development and economic growth across the continent.

L-R: Matthew Della Croce, Chief Growth Officer, Global Client Experience, Allison; Claudine Moore, Managing Director, Africa, Allison; and Ayẹni Adékúnlé, Founder and CEO, BHM.

The event commenced with opening remarks from Claudine Moore, Managing Director, Africa, Allison Worldwide.

She emphasised the importance of leveraging communication and stakeholder engagement for Africa’s sustainable development agenda.

“By harnessing the power of communications and innovation, we can accelerate Africa’s socio-economic progress towards achieving its sustainable development goals,” she stated.

The discussions at the event highlighted Africa’s youthful population as a significant driver of future growth, with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under 30. Projections indicate that by 2030, one-fifth of the global population will be African, underscoring the continent’s increasing importance on the world stage.

A panel on technology and finance featured insights from Iyin Aboyeji of Future Africa; Tobe Okigbo of MTN Nigeria and Anie Akpe of African Women In Tech (AWIT).

Okigbo expressed how impressive the business landscape on the continent has become saying, “African businesses are not just solving local problems; they’re turning billion dollar problems into billion dollar opportunities.”

Speaking about the opportunities available for Africa’s diaspora, Aboyeji added, “There is an opportunity for Africa’s diaspora to better orchestrate impact on the continent by facilitating its major inflows to deliver value on the ground.

“The diasporan community can, for example, leverage aggregated remittances as capital to establish sustainable infrastructure on the continent.”

The creative economy took centre stage during a discussion led by media executives Sam Onyemelukwe, Senior Vice President of Global Business Development, TRACE and Ayo Animashaun, Founder & CEO at Smooth Promotions, Hip TV, and The Headies.

Onyemelukwe highlighted the global impact of African pop culture and how African creatives are shaping global trends and narratives.

Animashaun spotlighted the economic potential of the creative industries, noting that the creative sector is a powerful engine for job creation and economic growth in Africa.

Speaking on the event’s significance, Ayeni Adekunle, Founder and CEO of BHM, asserted, “this gathering is an opportunity to have the right conversations about our continent – the opportunities and the challenges.

“We’re providing guests with a space where conversations can flow freely, turning ideas into impactful initiatives that foster sustainable growth across Africa.”

Throughout the event, speakers highlighted Africa’s potential for investment and collaboration. Recent data from the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows that although 2023 was a challenging year, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the continent remained relatively stable at $48 billion, although this represented just 3.5 percent of total global FDI.

Claudine Moore, Managing Director for Africa at Allison, added, “The Africa Breakfast Convos represents a unique opportunity to bring together influential voices and decision-makers from across Africa, the U.S. and beyond.

“We’re facilitating meaningful dialogue that will drive sustainable growth and social impact across the continent.”

The Africa Breakfast Convos aligned with UNGA79’s broader theme of global progress and sustainable development. Participants stressed the importance of public-private partnerships and engaging the African diaspora to drive economic growth on the continent.

As the event concluded, there was a palpable sense of optimism about Africa’s future and its potential to lead in sectors like renewable energy and technology, setting the stage for more productive collaboration and continued investment in the continent’s sustainable development.