– On Saturday, April 2nd some of the biggest names in Africa in business and e-commerce, health care innovation, philanthropy and media gathered at Columbia University for the 13th edition of the African Economic Forum (2016 AEF).
Under the theme A Continent Connecting: Solutions from Within, the conference focused attention on the need for Africans to lead innovation and intervention for Africa’s problems.
The African Economic Forum is an annual conference organized by Columbia University’s Young African MBAs with companies like Microsoft, Transfast, OkayAfrica and Ethiopian Airlines, as some of the sponsors for this year’s event. As in the previous year, 2016 AEF brought over 500 current and future business leaders to Columbia University and further establishing the conference as the biggest Africa-focused event at the prestigious university.
Jay Vix, Global Marketing Director for the cross-border payments operator Transfast was at hand on the Venture Capital in Africa Panel to discuss the need for long-term investments in Africa’s young population by companies and governments alike. Transfast has been making waves recently for a number of social engagements targeted at Africa’s growing, young population.
It is undeniable that African arts and folklore have captured the imagination of worldwide audiences stretching back hundreds of years. As a contemporary example, the explosion of Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry has provided endless opportunities for local filmmakers and actors to showcase and market their talents to global-scale markets.
Drawing upon this potential, the 2016 AEF put together the Art Panel, which featured some of Africa’s leading writers, producers and digital content creatives including the beloved Nigerian actor Gbenga Akinnagbe, CEO of OkayAfrica Abiola Oke, and multi-talented artists like Ekwa Msangi, and Lion Ayodel.
SOURCES: Nigerian Scholars, Business Day