Registration

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM, Reception Area

Participant check-in and registration.

Welcome

9:15 AM – 9:25 AM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

An opening address outlining the importance of the Africa Forum and the overarching theme for the day. The session highlights key speakers and sets expectations for active participation and engagement throughout the forum.

Speaker: Dean Mette Morsing

Africa at the Centre of a Changing Global Economy

9:25 AM – 9:55 AM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This opening session sets the tone for the Forum by examining how shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics are reshaping global trade and investment. The discussion will bring together key Forum themes including geopolitical and economic shifts, financing Africa’s future, and the leadership required to position Africa as a strategic player in the evolving global order.

Speakers: Rt. Hon. Mark Simmonds, Sanjeev Gupta

The African Funding Journey: From Seed to IPO, Building Inclusive Pathways to Scale

9:55 AM – 10:30 AM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This session maps the financing journey for African businesses from the first cheque through growth capital to credible exits (including IPO pathways). It asks what it takes to build a funding ecosystem that is not only larger and cheaper, but also more inclusive: expanding who gets funded, who scales, and who ultimately benefits from growth.

Speakers: Abiodun Ajayi (London Stock Exchange Group) led by Blessing Abeng

Coffee Break

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Reception Area

An opportunity for informal networking and refreshment.

The AI Race and Africa’s Digital Future: Opportunity or New Dependency?

11:00 AM – 11:35 AM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This session explores whether the accelerating AI race can empower African innovation and entrepreneurship or whether it risks creating new digital and economic inequity.

Speakers: Emmanuel Lubanzadio (OpenAI), Akua Gyekye (Microsoft) led by Esther Manthi

Africa at a Crossroads: Redefining Growth in an Era of Technological and Geopolitical Change

11:35 AM – 11:50 AM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This keynote will examine Africa’s place in a shifting global order, highlighting the importance of strong growth fundamentals, effective capital mobilisation, and resilient institutions. It will position technology as a catalyst rather than a cure all, and call for bold, investable strategies that enable Africa to navigate transition while strengthening long term competitiveness and resilience.

Speakers: Ethiopis Tafara (International Finance Corporation)

Shaping Africa’s Development: A Conversation with the World Bank Group

11:50 AM – 12:25 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This fireside chat builds on the keynote with a candid, solutions focused discussion on what will genuinely unlock investable growth across African markets today. Moving beyond high level themes, it will explore the practical reforms, partnerships, capital structures, and leadership commitments required to drive sustainable, credible, and scalable growth in the current global context.

Speakers: Ethiopis Tafara (International Finance Corporation), Arunma Oteh (Saïd Business School)

World Bank Group and Saïd Business School MOU Signing

12:25 AM – 12:35 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

A formal signing ceremony to mark a strategic partnership focused on inclusive growth, leadership development, and cross sector collaboration. The session will feature brief remarks from Radi Anguelova, followed by the official signing.

Speakers: Radi Anguelova (World Bank Group), Dean Mette Morsing (Saïd Business School)

Lunch

12:35 PM – 1:30 PM, Reception Area

A networking lunch for participants and speakers.

Energy Access, Transition, and Climate Resilience: Powering a Sustainable Africa

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This keynote addresses how energy access, clean energy transitions, and climate resilience can together shape a sustainable and prosperous future for Africa.

Speakers: Kumi Naidoo (Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative)

Powering Scale: What It Takes to Deliver Reliable Energy Access Profitably

1:40 PM – 2:15 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

Grounded discussion on what truly enables scale in energy access: from project economics and delivery models to regulatory realities and partnership structures. Panellists share what they’ve learned building and financing energy solutions across African markets, and what must change to accelerate affordable, reliable power.

Speakers: Anthony Osijo (Bboxx), Tedd Moya led by Elim Shanko

From Innovation to Scale: What It Takes to Build Enduring African Tech Companies

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

A practical session on how African innovators and Big Tech are building ventures that scale in the African context. Covering digital infrastructure, trust, regulation, talent, distribution, and the financing pathways that separate ideas from enduring businesses.

Speakers: Abdigani Diriye (Odola), Edidiong Uwemakpan (Moniepoint), Tim Odeneye (Amazon) led by Harry Kwakye Davies

Afternoon Coffee Break

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Reception Area

An opportunity for informal networking and refreshment.

Financing Africa’s Future: Sustainability, Security, and Growth

3:30 PM – 3:40 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This keynote will assess Africa’s position in the global artificial intelligence economy, with a focus on data access, skills development, digital infrastructure, and governance. The session considers whether AI presents a pathway to competitiveness or a risk of new forms of dependency.

Speaker: Kola Aina (Ventures Platform)

The Cost of Capital: Rethinking Investment in an Age of Global Uncertainty

3:40 PM – 4:15 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

Why does capital remain so expensive across African markets, and what would actually bring the risk premium down? Drawing on perspectives from venture, real assets investing, catalytic capital, and finance/markets, this panel will surface where deals break, what fixes work in practice, and the levers that unlock cheaper, longer-term capital at scale.

Speakers: Victoria Sabula (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund), David van Dijk (Boost Africa), Funke Okubadejo (Grene Capital Management Nigeria) led by Gathoni Mwai

Africa’s Creative Economy and Cultural Power: From Artistic Expression to Sporting Enterprise

4:15 PM – 4:50 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This session examines the role of Africa’s creative economy in transforming cultural expression into scalable enterprises across the arts, media, and sport.

Speakers: Cheick Sanankoua (Omega Sports Holding), Victor Ehikhamenor (VEE Studio), Linda Ayoola (Platoon) led by Zoe Flood

Leading with Purpose: Africa’s Vision for the 21st Century

4:50 PM – 5:20 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

This conversation centres on purpose-driven leadership: what integrity, inclusion, and accountability look like in practice, and how values-led leadership can shape Africa’s political, economic, and social transformation in the 21st century.

Speakers: Dagmawit Moges Bekele (African Union), Abir Ibrahim (World Economic Forum) led by Yousif Yahya

Closing Remarks

5:20 PM – 5:30 PM, Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre

A synthesis of the day’s discussions, highlighting key insights, unresolved questions, and priorities for action following the forum.

Speakers: 2026 Forum Co-Directors

Drinks Reception

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Club Room, Saïd Business School

A networking drinks reception for gala dinner participants

Gala Dinner

7:30 PM – 10:00 PM, Pyramid Room, Saïd Business School

An evening reception and formal dinner bringing together speakers, delegates, and invited guests.