At the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), prominent African leaders and global partners gathered in New York City on September 26 for the Africa Breakfast Convos (ABC), a high-level dialogue on Africa’s role in driving sustainable development.
Hosted at the World Trade Centre by global communications agency Allison Worldwide, in partnership with The King’s Trust Group and Nigerian communications powerhouse Black House Media (BHM), the event brought together business executives, policymakers, and innovators from Africa and the U.S. to explore strategies for Africa-led innovation, youth empowerment, and investment.
The morning opened with a fireside chat featuring Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group. Aig-Imoukhuede explained the need to unlock Africa’s youth potential and expand access to global capital.
“Unlocking Africa’s youth potential, connecting entrepreneurs to global markets, and ensuring inclusive growth are not just aspirations — they are imperatives if Africa is to shape the 21st century,” he said.
Allison Worldwide’s Africa Managing Director, Claudine Moore, who moderated the session, emphasised ABC’s goal of creating spaces that move beyond dialogue to action. “Our vision is to position Africa as a driver of global sustainable development,” she noted.
The first panel session, Generation Potential — Powering Africa’s Youth Through Nutrition, Skills, Access & Opportunity, spotlighted Africa’s demographic advantage, with nearly 70% of sub-Saharan Africans under 30.
Panellists, including Shalom Ndiku (Food4Education), Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie (Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education), and Abeiku Greene (Junior Achievement Ghana), stressed how education, nutrition, and youth-centred policies are key to preparing the continent’s next generation of leaders.
The King’s Trust Group, reflecting on its collaboration with Allison and BHM, stated: “We are proud to support forums like ABC that put youth, innovation, and opportunity at the center of Africa’s development agenda.”
The second panel explored Africa’s Role in the Future of Technology, Media, AI & Finance, with insights from Iyin Aboyeji (Future Africa), Ayeni Adekunle (BHM), and Kayode Akintemi (News Central TV). Moderated by Wendu Nwakanma of Goldman Sachs, the session examined Africa’s fast-growing tech and creative industries and their potential to shape global markets.
Ayeni Adekunle stressed the importance of candid dialogue: “We’re providing a space where conversations can flow freely, turning ideas into impactful initiatives that foster sustainable growth across Africa.”
The Bigger Picture
According to UNCTAD, Africa attracted $50 billion in foreign direct investment in 2024, representing 3.7% of global flows — a sign of growing investor confidence. Speakers at ABC agreed that leveraging youth, technology, and cross-sector partnerships will be critical to scaling that momentum.
As discussions concluded, optimism was high: Africa’s young population, renewable energy potential, and expanding digital economy were identified as powerful levers to secure the continent’s place at the centre of 21st-century sustainable development.
