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AMA, Business

Brand Africa announces the inaugural Africa CMO 100

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Women, Financial Services, Telco and Southern African CMOs dominate the list of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Brand Builders

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 30 march 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Brand Africa, in partnership with African Business magazine, MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent) and the African Media Agency, today launched the inaugural Africa CMO 100 (ACMO100) — recognising the 100 most impactful marketing, brand and reputation leaders shaping Africa’s story, identity and prosperity.

The full list and in-depth analysis will be featured in the April 2026 issue of African Business, available first week of April, and across partner platforms at brandafrica.net, africabusiness.com, mipad.org and africanmediaagency.com.

Brand Africa’s independent research over 15 years has consistently found that while 68% of Africans believe in Africa, only 18% of the brands they most admire are African. ACMO100 exists to recognise and connect the leaders best placed to change that.
“CMOs and senior brand leaders are among the most powerful architects of Africa’s future. Through strategy, stewardship and influence, they shape narratives, build trust, and guide the preferences of hundreds of millions of people. ACMO100 exists to recognise, celebrate and connect these leaders.”
— Thebe Ikalafeng — Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa

The inaugural ACMO100 honourees will be celebrated at Brand Africa Week, Addis Ababa, 22–26 May 2026.

ACMO100: AFRICA’S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL MARKETING LEADERS

One hundred leaders across six African economic regions — including the diaspora — spanning twenty countries and more than 50 distinct role titles. The list is ordered alphabetically by country of origin. All 100 honourees hold equal standing. The list carries no internal ranking.

THREE FINDINGS FROM THE INAUGURAL LIST

01 — A Female-Majority Profession. 62% of honourees are women — a majority across every region. The diaspora cohort is 75% female; East Africa reaches 72%; North Africa, 71%. In Africa, women are not emerging talent waiting for their moment: they are running marketing for the continent’s most consequential brands.

02 — Finance and Telecoms Dominate. Financial services — banking, insurance and fintech — leads with 31 honourees, reflecting the scale of Africa’s financial inclusion wave and the premium brand trust commands in markets where millions are transacting formally for the first time. Telecoms and technology account for a further 20. Together, these two sectors represent more than half the list — and the deepest pools of marketing talent on the continent.

03 — Three Hubs, and a Rising Fourth. Southern Africa leads with 39 honourees, anchored by Johannesburg — the marketing capital of the continent. West Africa contributes 20, with Nigeria’s 17 entries anchoring a market of extraordinary commercial depth. East Africa’s 17 are shaped by Kenya’s Safaricom ecosystem and Nairobi’s competitive consumer market. The most instructive story is North Africa: 14 entries, with Morocco alone accounting for seven — more than Egypt and Algeria combined — signalling Casablanca’s emergence as a new continental marketing hub.

Southern Africa — 39 Honourees
Anchored by South Africa, which accounts for 31% of leaders by country of origin. Cohort: Abey Mokgwatsane, Alison Hastings Badenhorst, Andisa Ntsubane, Andrea Quaye, Beyers Van De Merwe, Bronwyn Pretorius, Bunmi Adeniba, Chantal Sombonos-Van Tonder, Doug Place, Dries Van der Sandt, Dudu Mokholo, Faye Mfikwe, Firoze Bhorat, Francois Viviers, Gugu Mthembu, Happy Ngidi, Ilze Bylos, Ivan Serra (Mozambique), Jessica Motaung, Khensani Nobanda, Levie Nkunika (Malawi), Lorraine De Graaf, Lucia Maseko, Matilda Nyathi (Zimbabwe), Mmaphuti Rankapole, Mosala Phillips, Mphothe Elizabeth Mokwena, Mzamo Masito, Nontokozo Madonsela, Raquel Capitão (Angola), Sithembile Ndaba, Sobhuza Ngwenya (Malawi), Suneeta Motala (Mauritius), Sydney Nhlanhla Mbhele, Thabang Ramogase, Tim Ekandjo (Namibia), Vaughan Croeser, Vilosha Soni and Vuyokazi Henda.

West Africa — 20 Honourees
Nigeria’s 17 entries anchor a market of extraordinary commercial depth. Cohort: Adewunmi Desalu, Amaechi Michael Okobi, Anthony Chiejina, Bamise Oyegbami, Bolanle Kehinde-Lawal, Cherry Eromosele, Chinedu Zephaniah, Diran Olojo, Emeka Oparah, Idemudia Dima-Okojie, Ifeoma Agu, Ilyas Kazeem, Julien Zayro (Côte d’Ivoire), Maureen Ifada, Noel Kojo-Ganson (Ghana), Oluyomi Moses, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Sandra Handou Koné (Côte d’Ivoire), Sarah Agha and Tolu Alero Ladipo.

East Africa — 17 Honourees
Anchored by Kenya at nine, shaped by the Safaricom ecosystem and Nairobi’s competitive consumer market. Cohort: Abdulkadir Mamma Hussein (Ethiopia), Anne Joy Michira, Catherine Ndungu, Fatema Dewji (Tanzania), Isabelle Kariuki-Rostom, Kitenda Robert Gobii (Uganda), Lemma Yadecha Gudeta (Ethiopia), Martine Gatabazi (Tanzania), Neemarose Singo (Tanzania), Nelly Wangui Wainaina, Ope Lawal, Rosalind Gichuru, Sylvia ElSheikh (Uganda), Vivian Achieng Oyugi, Wangechi Gitahi, Warau Kahoro and Zizwe Awuor Vundla.

North Africa — 14 Honourees
Morocco alone accounts for seven entries — more than Egypt and Algeria combined — reflecting its position as a francophone-Arabic-European commercial crossroads. Cohort: Anne Ezeh (Egypt), El Hadi Mohamed Hamma (Algeria), Fadwa Bisbis, Ghada Hammouda (Egypt), Isabelle Hajri (Algeria), Mahmoud Taha (Egypt), Mehdi Yaroub, Mounir Jazouli, Nadia Rahim Guérin, Sakina El Fares, Salma Bencherif, Salma Hamdouch, Samia Dziri (Algeria) and Shams Adly (Egypt).

Central Africa — 2 Honourees
Bienvenu Mayamonuswa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Yves Kom (Cameroon).

Diaspora — 8 Honourees
Based in the USA and UAE, running marketing at Visa, Unilever, Doordash and BET Media Group — underscoring the mobility of African-origin talent at the top of the world’s most competitive brand portfolios. Cohort: Dara Treseder, Esi Eggleston Bracey, Frank Cooper III, Kimberly Evans Paige, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, Linda Kouam, Najoh Tita-Reid and Tarek Abdalla.

THE BAOBAB | ACMO HALL OF FAME

Brand Africa has also announced the inaugural Baobab | ACMO Hall of Fame — honouring a select number of African and diaspora brand leaders whose benchmark careers have made an enduring contribution to Africa’s brand narrative. Named for Africa’s most iconic and enduring tree, the Baobab honours legacy, not a moment. Inaugural recipients: Bozoma Saint John (former Uber and Netflix CMO); Bernice Samuels (retiring MTN Group Executive for Brand and Marketing); Sylvia Mulinge (CEO, MTN Uganda; former Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom); and Souheil Badaa (former CMO, Novartis Group; founder, Tanakoo) — icons whose work has defined, elevated and expanded the possibilities of African-led brand leadership.

BRAND AFRICA WEEK — ADDIS ABABA, 22–26 MAY 2026

The inaugural ACMO100 honourees will be celebrated at Brand Africa Week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — the historical capital of the continent — in the week of Africa Day. Brand Africa Week 2026 will bring together the ACMO100 Celebration, the unveiling of the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands® and the Brand Africa Dialogue — planned to be the most impactful convening of continental CMOs in Africa’s history.

“MIPAD exists to celebrate and elevate the most influential people of African descent — and ACMO100 does exactly that for the world of marketing and brand leadership. For the first time, the architects of Africa’s most powerful brands are being recognised on their own terms. That is long overdue, and it matters deeply to the diaspora.”
— Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman, MIPAD (USA/Nigeria)

THE ACMO METHODOLOGY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE

The ACMO100 selection is governed by a rigorous, three-step process designed to reflect the realities of marketing leadership across a continent where function often outpaces title.

Collation draws on three independent sources: nominations by the ACMO Review Committee; review of the marketing leadership behind brands featured in the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands® and comparable rankings over the preceding three years; and research into CMOs behind award-winning and/or impactful work.

Evaluation applies a consistent set of criteria to every nominee: active leadership in Africa or the diaspora; a minimum of five years in senior marketing decision-making; and standing as the highest-ranking functional marketing, brand or communications leader in their organisation.

Verification and vetting ensures that every name on the list has earned its place through demonstrable impact, influence and integrity — not title or visibility alone.

The list carries no internal ranking. All 100 honourees hold equal standing.

The integrity of ACMO100 is anchored in the independence and calibre of its governance. The ACMO Review Committee is an independent, Africa-wide body of distinguished practitioners with a deep understanding of the marketing and brand industry and its most influential individuals — drawn from every major region of the continent and the diaspora. The Committee is intentionally diverse in discipline, geography and background. It brings together former CMOs now in general management and board roles; founders and chief executives of leading African agencies; editors and publishers of the continent’s foremost business media; heads of national marketing associations; academics and researchers from leading African institutions; and respected independent voices from strategy, creative, media and digital.

Committee members are ineligible for inclusion during their tenure; current CMOs do not participate in nomination or adjudication, ensuring complete independence. The panel spans more than 20 countries across all African regions and the diaspora — its diversity in discipline, geography and seniority is central to the credibility of the process.

Southern Africa: Thulani Sibeko, CEO – COID and Social Insurance, Rand Mutual (RMA) (South Africa); Trevor Ncube, Chairman & Director, Alpha Media Holdings (Zimbabwe); Laz Jacobs, Founder & Executive Director, Paragon TBWA (Namibia); Dr Pepe Marais, Group Chief Creative Officer, Joe Public (South Africa); Sechaba Motsieloa, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Kansy Group (South Africa); George Damson, President, Institute of Marketing in Malawi; Dr Tumelo Chaka, Managing Executive, The Strategists (South Africa); Christine Ramela (Mozambique); Mwewa Besa, President, Institute of Marketing in Zambia; Brian Yuyi, CEO, Marketing Association of South Africa; Professor Alistair Mokoena, Executive Dean, Johannesburg Business School (South Africa); Dr Tendai Mhiza, CEO, Integra Africa (Zimbabwe); Gillian Rusike, Founder & CEO, Marketers Association of Zimbabwe; Adv Phelane Phomane, Founder & Managing Director, Tangerine Connect (Lesotho); Dale Hefer, CEO, Integrated Marketing Council (South Africa).

West Africa: Seyi Ademola-Adeoye, Senior Research Fellow, Pierrine (Nigeria); Kwame Senou, Executive Director, THOP (Côte d’Ivoire); Steve Babaeko, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, X3M Ideas (Nigeria); Ade Adefeko, Vice President, Corporate & Government Affairs, Olam International (Nigeria); Sharon Mills, Lead Consultant, SMC Consulting (Ghana); Daniel Kojo Soboh, Executive Director, EMY Africa (Ghana).

East Africa: Malik Shaffy Lizinde, Founder & CEO, 63 INC (Rwanda); William Kalombo, Marketing Africa Magazine (Kenya); Melvin Mwakugu, Independent (Kenya); Jacquie Muhati, Deputy Marketing Director, NCBA (Kenya); Barian Shah, Managing Director, Evolution Events (Tanzania); Aron Simeneh, Creative Director, Kin Creatives (Ethiopia); Joseph Kanyamunyu, Chief Executive Director, Publicis Africa Communications (Uganda); Frakline Kibuacha, Marketing Director, GeoPoll (Kenya).

North Africa: Youssef Cheikhi, CEO, Brendz (Morocco); Youssef Othmani, CEO, Gopinion (Algeria); Siham Malek, Managing Director, Integrate Consulting (Morocco).

Diaspora: Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher, African Business (UK/Tunisia); Denver Phiri (UK/Zimbabwe); Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman, MIPAD (USA/Nigeria); Moky Makura, Executive Director, Africa No Filter (UK/Nigeria); Terhas Asefaw Berhe, Managing Director, Brand Comms (UK/Eritrea); James Woods, Globiq International (UK/Malawi); Akin Naphtal, Founder & CEO, InstinctiveWave Group (UK/Nigeria); Cyrille Djami, Founder & Manager, Comms of Africa (France/Cameroon), and Ndeye Diagne, Chief Client Officer, Kantar (France/Senegal).

“The ACMO Review Committee brings together some of the sharpest and most experienced minds on the continent. Their role is to ensure that every name on the ACMO100 list has truly earned their place through impact, influence and integrity.”
— Omar Ben Yedder — Publisher, African Business

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Brand Africa

ABOUT BRAND AFRICA

Brand Africa is the continent’s leading brand-led platform to inspire an African renaissance founded on the conviction that brands drive the growth, reputation and competitiveness of nations. Since 2011, its flagship initiative, the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands®, has tracked brand performance, consumer perception and brand equity across the continent – providing the most authoritative pan-African brand intelligence. Brand Africa convenes leaders, shapes narratives and advances the case for branding as a driver of Africa’s prosperity. www.brand.africa

ABOUT AFRICAN BUSINESS

African Business is Africa’s foremost pan-continental business magazine, providing authoritative journalism, analysis and intelligence on business, finance, trade and policy across Africa and the global African diaspora. Published by IC Publications, it reaches a senior readership of business, government and civil society leaders across Africa and internationally. www.africabusiness.com

ABOUT MIPAD

MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent) is a global civil society organisation that recognises, celebrates and networks the most influential people of African descent across the world. Its annual recognition spans business, politics, culture, science and civil society, with a mission to advance the social, economic and political empowerment of people of African descent globally. www.mipad.org

ABOUT AFRICAN MEDIA AGENCY

African Media Agency (AMA) is the trusted pan-African communications agency helping organisations connect with African audiences. Founded by Eloïne Barry, AMA integrates public relations with digital and creative communications to establish clients as market leaders across the continent. AMA’s services span press release distribution, PR strategy, digital creative and media training through its not-for-profit AMA Academy. A member of IPREX and the PRCA. www.africanmediaagency.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Lebogang Serapelwane | Brand Africa | E: lebogang@brandleadership.com

Eloïne Barry | African Media Agency | E: eloine@africanmediaagency.com

www.brand.africa

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AMA, Business

African Media Agency joins Brand Africa, African Business & MiPAD to launch ACMO 100, the first definitive ranking of Africa’s marketing leaders

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Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 27 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Behind Africa’s most powerful brands are the strategists shaping their trajectory. Today, that reality takes center stage with the launch of the ACMO 100, the first benchmark ranking dedicated to Africa’s leading marketing professionals.

Initiated by Brand Africa, in partnership with African Business, MiPAD and AMA, this inaugural edition highlights 100 decision-makers from over 20 countries, operating across key sectors including financial services, telecommunications, consumer goods, fintech and aviation.

Built on more than 15 years of research into Africa’s most admired brands, the ACMO 100 addresses a long-standing paradox: while non-African brands continue to dominate perceptions across the continent, African marketing talent has never been more powerful, structured and influential.

Recognizing Africa’s strategic marketing leadership

Far more than a ranking, the ACMO 100 celebrates a generation of leaders capable of understanding, capturing and transforming Africa’s consumer dynamics. Unlike traditional classifications, selection is not based on job titles, but on tangible impact, strategic brand leadership, business growth, market influence and deep consumer insight.

Another striking insight: women represent 62% of the leaders recognized, underscoring the central role of female leadership in shaping Africa’s marketing landscape.

A marketing landscape in transformation

The geographic distribution of the ranking reflects Africa’s economic realities: a strong concentration of talent in Southern Africa, a rising West African ecosystem led by Nigeria, and the strategic emergence of North Africa, particularly Morocco, as a regional marketing hub.

At the same time, the African diaspora is asserting itself as a global force, with leaders holding key roles within international organizations such as Visa, Netflix and Unilever.

African Media Agency: amplifying the voices shaping the continent

As a partner in the initiative, AMA is fully aligned with this momentum to elevate African leadership on the global stage.
“Marketing is no longer a support function. It has become a strategic driver of economic, cultural and societal transformation. Through the ACMO 100, we are helping bring visibility to those redefining the role of African brands globally,” said Eloïne Barry.

Through this initiative, AMA aims not only to support the recognition of these leaders, but also to build bridges between Africa’s top marketing minds and global ecosystems.

At a time when African brands still struggle to capture a significant share of their own market, the ACMO 100 sends a clear message: Africa has the talent to reverse this trend and build powerful brands rooted in cultural relevance and capable of competing on the global stage.

Read article:
https://african.business/2026/03/trade-investment/behind-every-top-brand-is-an-exceptional-marketing-officer

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA)

About African Media Agency (AMA)

AMA is an award-winning, women-owned and led, pan-African communications agency and strategic market entry partner, helping organizations navigate and succeed across African markets and beyond.

AMA combines on-the-ground intelligence with strategic communications to support market entry, shape policy conversations, and drive outcomes across awareness, reputation, and growth. Through an integrated approach spanning public relations, reputation management, crisis preparedness, digital communications, and content, AMA delivers campaigns that influence perception and unlock opportunities with key stakeholders.

With expertise across sectors including finance, health, science, technology, and agriculture, AMA translates complex topics into clear strategies, ensuring clients are not only visible but also well positioned to lead.

Headquartered in Abidjan, with offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Accra, and New York, and a presence in over 30 African markets, AMA combines continental reach with strong local insight.

Media Contact:
Shamilda@africanmediaagency.com

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AMA

Kaberuka, speakers call for a new era of strong African institutions at 9th Babacar Ndiaye Lecture

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London, United Kingdom, 6 November 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ Former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka has called for Africa to strengthen and integrate its financial and governance institutions to safeguard the continent’s future in a rapidly fragmenting global order.

Delivering the 2025 Babacar Ndiaye Lecture on the sidelines of the World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington DC, Kaberuka warned that “the world is not waiting for Africa; therefore, Africa must not wait for the world,” and urged African nations to take ownership of their development agenda through resilient, homegrown institutions.

Reflecting on global power shifts, Kaberuka pointed to the return of mercantilism; rising narrow national interests; the end of the aid era; weakened global institutions; and the erosion of multilateralism as the five trends that are reshaping the global economy. For Africa, that means turning inward, while leading the charge for a renewed global architecture. “We can no longer rely on post-war institutions that were never designed to address Africa’s challenges,” he said. “Strong nations are built on strong, homegrown institutions; not on borrowed ideas or conditional generosity.”

Kaberuka emphasized that Africa’s development requires an ecosystem approach, where institutions across sectors – finance, trade, peace and security, health, and governance – operate in coordinated harmony rather than isolation. “Like an orchestra, African financial institutions on their own will not get to the end point. It has to be part of an ecosystem of African financial institutions and not simply financial institutions. They have to operate together in a symphony,” he urged.

Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Kaberuka said, must be commended for exemplifying this model through its support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the regional economic communities and other initiatives and institutions of the continent. 

Kaberuka, who is also the Chairman and Managing Partner of SouthBridge, a financial advisory and investment firm, further argued that Africa must lead in reshaping global governance to reflect 21st-century realities and replace the post-World War II institutions such as the Bretton Woods system which were primarily designed for the reconstruction of Europe and Japan and not for the needs of emerging African economies. “We can no longer outsource our future to institutions that were never meant to serve us,” he said, calling for the continent to take a more assertive role in creating new multilateral frameworks that champion African priorities.

Kaberuka stressed that as the world moves from globalization to fragmentation, Africa’s ability to define and defend its interests will depend on the strength, coordination, and legitimacy of its own institutions. Pointing to over $1.1 trillion held by African pension and sovereign wealth funds, he called for new models to mobilize and connect this capital with global investment flows. “It is not only about mobilizing African capital,” he said. “It is about defining how that capital is deployed for Africa, by Africa.”

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Dr George Elombi, Executive Vice President, Corporate Governance and Legal Services and incoming President of Afreximbank called for urgent action to strengthen Africa’s financial sovereignty through the completion of the continent’s financial architecture. Elombi said the time has come to move decisively toward the establishment of the African Monetary Fund and the African Central Bank as “full operational pillars of our sovereignty.”

He outlined some imperatives for African financial institutions going forward. These include mobilising domestic capital by deepening investment in African assets, ensuring regulatory clarity to uphold investor confidence and fully operationising the AfCFTA. He also called for expanding counter-cyclical capacity and encouraging collaboration with the African diaspora to boost investment and co-create solutions. “This, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is the roadmap to an Africa that controls its own narrative and owns its own destiny. An Africa that does not wait to be defined by others, but defines itself through vision, resolve, and unity of action,” he emphasised.

Elombi, who has taken over as the 4th President of the pan-African Multilateral Development Bank following his selection by the board at the general shareholders meeting in June, reaffirmed Afreximbank’s preferred creditor status as an essential safeguard for Africa’s ability to finance its own development. Cautioning against narratives that question the credibility of African institutions, he noted that such criticism often arises “not because we fail, but because we succeed.” Afreximbank, he noted, has disbursed over $155bn in the past decade, including $18.7bn in 2024 alone. “These are not just numbers,” he said. “They represent jobs, freedom, and hope. They are living proof of what Africa can accomplish when trust is matched by capacity.” Elombi argued that the real challenge facing the continent is not risk, but perception. “Africa is not merely bankable; Africa is dependable,” he said.

Elombi also paid tribute to Dr. Babacar Ndiaye, the fifth president of the AfDB and one of the founders of Afreximbank, describing him as a man “whose vision turned words into action.” Ndiaye, he said, believed that Africa’s progress depended on institutions built, financed, and led by Africans, a conviction that gave rise to Afreximbank, Shelter Afrique Development Bank, and the African Business Roundtable. “Dr. Ndiaye understood that true independence means having the capacity to stand on our own and to shape our own future, no matter how the world around us changes,” he said. Elombi reaffirmed Afreximbank’s commitment to Ndiaye’s legacy, stressing that the agenda must continue “until the task of development is significantly achieved”.

During a fireside chat jointly moderated by Anver Versi, editor of New African magazine and Omar Ben Yedder Group Publisher and Managing Director, IC Publications, Dr. Misheck Mutize, Lead Expert, Country Support on Rating Agencies, Africa Union stressed the importance of preserving the preferred creditor status of Africa’s development finance institutions. He explained that the preferred creditor status is a long-standing principle enjoyed by traditional multilaterals like the IMF and World Bank which allows such institutions to lend counter-cyclically, continuing to support economies even in times of crisis. For Africa’s regional and continental financial institutions, he said, this principle is not a privilege but a right embedded in their founding treaties, as they too were established by member states to bridge financing gaps and fund essential infrastructure and development projects.

Dr. Mutize cautioned, however, that the validity of PCS for African multilaterals has come under increasing scrutiny from international credit rating agencies, especially following a few sovereign defaults on the continent. He rejected the notion that African development banks must offer concessional loans to qualify for PCS, arguing instead that these institutions perform a unique public mission – blending developmental purpose with financial sustainability. “The preferred creditor status lies at the core of Africa’s financing ecosystem,” he said. “It ensures our institutions can continue to lend when others retreat, sustain development momentum, and access global capital on fair terms.”

For her part, Professor Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, advocated for reforms to the global financial system, which she said was “completely perverse and fundamentally broken.” She stressed that Africa’s development requires long-term, affordable finance, which is currently constrained by a global risk assessment framework that misrepresents Africa’s creditworthiness and growth potential. “The IMF acknowledges that Africa is the fastest-growing region in the world,” she said, “yet at the same time advises African governments not to borrow and invest. That contradiction shows how broken the system is.” Sachs said new international partners such as those in Asia and the Global South, who recognise Africa’s promise and are willing to build equitable financial partnerships that align with the continent’s development ambitions, offer a hopeful alternative for the continent.

Adding his voice, Professor Kako Nubukpo, formerly Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management at the University of Lome stressed that shifting global perceptions of Africa’s risk “must begin with us,” and called for stronger governance and transparency to rebuild confidence. “We need to improve the perception that the rest of the world has of risk in Africa,” he said, warning against “a dangerous discourse that seems to prioritise mediocrity.” 

He further emphasised the need for genuine financial sovereignty, noting that “you can’t ask permission from the financial market to build a hospital.” True independence, he argued, will come only when African leaders “show vision, the ability to lead, and the courage to evaluate what we are doing.”

This year’s Babacar Ndiaye Lecture was the 9th in the series held in honour of the late Ndiaye, who was the driving spirit behind the establishment of Afreximbank and other key pan-African institutions. It was held under the theme “Leveraging Global Africa’s Capital for Development: The Imperative for Stronger African Financial Institutions amid Geo-economic Shifts” and was attended by policy makers and business leaders from the continent and the United States where it was held.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Afreximbank.

About Afreximbank

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

Media Contact:

Vincent Musumba

Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)

Email: press@afreximbank.com

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AMA, Business

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Headlines African Business Stories Roundtable on Mobilizing Diaspora Investment for Africa’s Growth at World Bank Spring Meetings

Maravi Post Reporter
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, GCON, Director General, World Trade Organization and Ms. Yvonne Ike, Managing Director & Head of Sub-Saharan Africa (Ex RSA), Bank of AmericaKanayo Adibe | Photographer

Washington, D.C. 5 May 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- African Business Stories (ABS) convened the third edition of its Roundtable Series during the 2025 World Bank Spring Meetings, hosting a high-level dialogue titled “Leveraging Diaspora Investment for Africa’s Economic Growth.” The event featured WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and other leading African and global voices in development and finance.

Launched in September 2024 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the ABS Roundtable Series convenes influential stakeholders to address critical barriers to scaling African businesses — with a focus on closing Africa’s $42 billion financing gap for women-owned enterprises and fostering sustainable growth.

Held at the Washington, D.C. offices of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, the ABS Roundtable was made possible through the generous support of Akin LLP, Bank of America, and Moneda Invest Africa. Their partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing Africa’s economic growth through innovative investment, strategic collaboration, and inclusive development. Bank of America’s partnership in this event reflects its ongoing commitment to sustainable growth and inclusive finance across Africa. The firm continues to support initiatives that unlock capital, scale entrepreneurship, and build resilient financial ecosystems.

Opening keynote speakers President Admassu Tadesse, Group President and Managing Director of Trade & Development Bank, and Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Executive Director at the World Bank and former Nigerian Minister of Finance, set a powerful tone — challenging participants to move beyond traditional aid models and strengthen Africa’s investment readiness.

A dynamic panel discussion followed, featuring Joan Manda (UNDP Timbuktoo Initiative), Barbara Iyayi (Unicorn Growth Capital), and Chidi Blyden (Culturally Bound), moderated by Kenechi Eze (Moneda Invest). The conversation centered on building trust, creating credible financial vehicles, and transforming Africa’s 44 million SMEs into engines of scalable investment.

President Admassu Tadesse, Group President and Managing Director, Trade and Development Bank Group , Ms. Florie Liser, President & CEO Corporate Council on Africa, Ms. Zainab Ahmed, Executive Director for Nigeria, Angola & South Africa, World Bank Group, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, GCON, Director General, World Trade Organization, Ms. Akaego Okoye, Founder African Business Stories/Convener ABS Roundtable Series and Ms. Yvonne Ike, Managing Director & Head of Sub-Saharan Africa (Ex RSA), Bank of America.Kanayo Adibe | Photographer

The event culminated in an inspiring fireside chat with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, moderated by Ms. Yvonne Ike, Managing Director at Bank of America and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa (ex-RSA). Addressing a room of investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala called for a decisive shift away from reliance on foreign aid, urging African countries to mobilize domestic resources, attract private sector investment, and build institutional trust. She emphasized the pivotal moment Africa faces in the global economy:

“Africa’s opportunity lies not in aid — but in adding value, building trust, and using our resources wisely,” said Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.

She stressed that Africa’s critical minerals must be leveraged strategically to drive industrialization rather than perpetuate dependence on raw exports:

“Our critical minerals are in demand — but instead of giving them away raw, we must negotiate smartly, add value locally, create jobs, and become a true hub of global manufacturing and innovation.”

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also addressed the impacts of global economic shifts — from trade disruptions to shrinking aid budgets — and stressed the urgency of regional collaboration, transparent governance, and strategic investment facilitation to attract both diaspora and global capital.

Closing the session, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala encouraged African entrepreneurs, leaders, and the diaspora to recognize their individual agency:

“Even solving one problem or building one enterprise can have ripple effects across the continent. Everyone has a role to play in building Africa’s future.”

“Events like this roundtable are vital platforms to foster collaboration, deepen trust, and unlock the entrepreneurial potential that exists both within Africa and among its global diaspora,” said Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa (ex-RSA) at Bank of America. “It was an honor to join this important dialogue and help shape conversations that will drive long-term impact.”

Participants committed to deepening collaboration with the African diaspora, creating credible financial structures, and expanding access to capital for the continent’s 44 million SMEs—key pillars for long-term growth.

Akaego Okoye, Founder of African Business Stories and Convener of the ABS Roundtable Series, added:

“Diaspora investment is not just about capital; it’s about building ecosystems and reshaping Africa’s economic narrative. We are proud to create a platform where action-oriented conversations drive real change.”

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of African Business Stories

About African Business Stories

African Business Stories (ABS) is a platform dedicated to unlocking investment for women-led businesses in Africa by telling their stories and connecting them to investors, resources, and key decision-makers. Through storytelling, strategic convenings, and ecosystem-building initiatives, ABS creates high-impact pathways that accelerate the growth and visibility of female entrepreneurs across the continent.

Press Contact

To explore collaboration opportunities or learn more about the ABS Roundtable Series, contact info@africanbusinessstories.com or visit www.africanbusinessstories.com.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

Human Rights

The Damage being done to African families with kids in the Diaspora

Ufulu

Many African families will never be together again. Not because they don’t want to be – but because they simply can never be together again.

  • First born is in Canada.
    • The second born is in Dubai.
    • Third born is in Australia.
    • Fourth born is in New York.
    • The last born is in the UK.
    • Parents are in Africa, making trips once in a while to see them in different countries.

They are all getting married and having children who will never really meet or know each other – virtual cousins!!. Their best shot is group video calls which will almost never happen because there’s no convenient regular time that works for everybody due to different global time zones.

When their parents die, their homes become desolate, and in no time, the family name become a distant memory.

They’ve all had to travel because Africa failed them, and they needed to leave to another country where they can have a shot at life and their children won’t suffer what they went through.

This is the high price of japa that you can never put a financial value on that very few people talk about. The destruction of families and the tearing of siblings apart.


This is the silent evil that our leadership has bequeathed to us all. Even their own families are not left out.

One day, we will realise the extent of the damage and the destruction that we have done to ourselves 😞
It’s the sad truth that we will live and die with!

Malawi

Weaving the Culinary Tapestry: A Journey through the African Diaspora

Maravi Post Reporter

The culinary arts points to the rich history, diversity and influence of the African diaspora, to be explored at the upcoming Global Black Impact Summit on February 27, 2024 in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 28, 2023/ — Food is a unique storyteller, a cultural bridge and a carrier of traditions. As a result, the culinary traditions and rich tapestry of cuisines belonging to the global Black community have played a valuable role in contemporary culture. These traditions not only illustrate the inspiration, creativity and shared heritage of Black people, but also serve as a common thread that connects diverse cultures and geographies. From the shores of West Africa to the vibrant streets of the Caribbean, the flavors, techniques and dishes of the African diaspora have transcended borders, uniting people from across the globe. The Global Black Impact Summit (GBIS) — which unites and celebrates the achievements of the global Black community on February 27, 2024 in Dubai — will explore the influence of the African diaspora on a wide range of industries, such as the culinary arts.

Africa: The Roots of Flavor

An exploration into the culinary heritage of the global Black community begins with the roots of African cuisine. The continent’s diverse landscape and myriad cultures have given rise to a vast array of ingredients, cooking methods and flavors. In West Africa, staples like yams, okra, plantains and an array of vibrant spices are central to the local cuisine, with traditional local dishes including Jollof rice, Fufu – made from cassava root – and Egusi soup. In South Africa, the fusion dish Bobotie – a spiced minced meat bake with an egg-based topping – reflects the country’s historical influences, blending Dutch, Malay and Indian flavors. Central Africa contributes to this culinary tapestry with dishes like Saka-Saka in Congo, made from cassava leaves cooked with spices, and Poulet Nyembwe in Gabon, featuring chicken in a rich red palm nut sauce. These dishes highlight the use of local ingredients and establish the roots of traditional African cuisines across regions. 

The African Diaspora anda Fusion of Cultures

Starting from the 16th century, the transatlantic slave trade facilitated the movement of millions of Africans to various parts of the world, including the Americas and the Caribbean. These journeys brought with them longstanding culinary traditions, which over time, evolved and adapted to the ingredients and resources found locally, while preserving the foundations of authentic cooking methods and flavors.

In the Caribbean, the fusion of African, indigenous and European culinary traditions and techniques gave birth to Creole cuisine. Dishes like Gumbo — a hearty stew served over rice and Callaloo — a leafy green stew — showcase the rich melding of influences. They tell the story of a resilient people who had to adapt and create new traditions, while preserving their roots. In the United States, African Americans developed Soul Food, a cuisine that celebrates their enduring connection to their African heritage. Dishes like collard greens, a flavorful leafy green dish, cornbread and fried chicken, stand apart from traditional African dishes. Yet they provide more than just sustenance; they serve as a celebration of cultural resilience, warmth, protection and identity.

The influence of the African diaspora on global cuisine is undeniable. Dishes like Acarajé in Brazil – a stuffed fritter sold and eaten as street food – finds its roots in the Yoruba people from Nigeria, Benin and Togo, while Ackee and saltfish – Jamaica’s national dish – was initially brought to the Caribbean from Ghana and stems from the name for the Akyem people. These examples reflect how the diaspora has enriched culinary traditions around the world and are a testament to its enduring impact on food and culture.

Pioneers and Innovators in the Culinary World

Throughout history, pioneering Black chefs have broken barriers in the culinary world. In the US, renowned chefs like Edna Lewis and Patrick Clark paved the way for the next generation of Black chefs to innovate and shape the world of food. Chef Marcus Samuelsson, an Ethiopian-born Swedish-American, is renowned for his culinary empire that spans from Harlem to Sweden. Kwame Onwuachi, a Nigerian-American chef, has left his mark on the culinary scene with a background that includes training in the world’s top kitchens. Sheldon Simeon, a Filipino-Black chef, celebrates the fusion of two cultures by exploring the ancestral roots of Hawaiian cuisine. 

GBIS 2024 strives to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Black individuals across industries, with a view to creating a more diverse and inclusive professional landscape. Just as culinary traditions continue to evolve and innovate, the Summit aims to unleash the full potential of the global Black community and explore the vast array of traditions and heritage associated with the African diaspora. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Human Rights

Atheism and Humanism in Africa and African Diaspora

Leo Igwe
eo Igwe Why I choose humanism over faith

Thank you, Clive and Mandisa, the Association of Black Humanists and Black Non-Believers for convening this historic meeting, for creating this platform to highlight black atheist and humanist pride. It is exciting to be part of this event and to be connected with the growing network of black non believers, skeptics and freethinkers. Historical, cultural and social encumbrances have made it difficult for nonbelievers in the black communities to come out and openly identify as atheists or humanists. But as this online event and other recent developments have shown, the freethought landscape in Africa and the African Diaspora is changing and this is a cause for celebration even amidst the gathering clouds.

The growing visibility of nonbelief in the black community is a welcome development especially in challenging the stereotype in academic and popular literature that conflates being black and being religious. This event is yet another step toward adequately situating the discourse on Black religiosity/irreligiosity, it is a step towards highlighting black freethought specifics-black freethought pride, solidarity, art and fellowship. For too long blacks have largely been associated with religious belief, magic, spiritism and occult. The black culture has been conceptualized as estranged from irreligious nontheistic elements and components. Some years ago, while I was doing my field work in Ghana, I travelled to a beach in Accra. I met a man wearing a white robe. He wanted to do some magical display for me. And in the course of our conversation, I told him that I was an atheist. The man stared at me for a while and asked: Are you not an African? From time to time, one confronts this narrative that says, a black person or an African is essentially religious or theistic. But we know this not the case and that the black/African culture is diverse. So with events like this explode the myth; fault the proposition and occasion some cognitive dissonance in the minds of many.

Atheism, skeptical rationality and humanism have a long history and deep roots in Black/African culture. Incidentally these cultural currents are seldom emphasized, and are often designated as alien, western or white. So it is worthwhile to celebrate or at least recognize trends of irreligiosity and non belief in Africa and African Diaspora. It is in order to take pride in the history of freethought and the growing influence and possibilities of nontheism in black communities.

I hope this event will not be a one off program and that in the months and years ahead, black non believers will have occasions like this to meet and interact online and offline, to congregate and take pride in black freethought history and struggles. We need platforms to send important messages, first to people of the world, that black non believers exist and are citizens and neighbours, friends and partners, children and parents, and yes fellow human beings. To people of faith, we seek to live in peace, equal dignity and respect. We seek an end to situations where discrimination and persecution of non believers is seen as an article of faith or implemented as a state policy.

And to other nonbelievers who feel lonely or alone; who find themselves in places and societies where they are persecuted, imprisoned, threatened with execution or treated as mentally sick people, we want you to know this: you are not alone and you will not walk alone. We stand with you and we will walk with you all the way to freedom!