World Economic Forum on Africa: We're looking forward to 2016 edition

The 2015 World Economic Forum Africa saw a meeting of some of the biggest players in business, politics and business coming together to discuss the betterment of Africa.

The last World Economic Forum on Africa held between June 3 and 5 2015 in Cape Town South Africa. The event featured sessions from speakers such as Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Fatima Haram Acyl, David Adjaye, Biola  Alabi and many more.

The first World Economic Forum on Africa was held more than 25 years ago, in October 1990, so the 2015 edition was also the silver jubilee anniversary.

The World Economic Forum on Africa 2016 is scheduled for May 11-13 2016 in Kigali Rwanda, featuring Tony Elemelu, Akinwunmi Ayodeji Ayosina and many others. The theme of the 26th WEF on Africa is 'Connecting Africa’s Resources through Digital Transformation'

Just to refresh your memory of the last edition's events, here's a very brief recap of what happened at the 2015 WEF on Africa.

The theme of the event was ‘Then and Now: Reimagining Africa’s Future’. Nigerian celebrities Omotola Jalade Ekehinde and Waje attended the event and spoke at the Poverty is Sexist session.

The former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan was also in attendance and he gave a special address.

Jacob Zuma, South African President, who was a panelist on the panel ‘Back to the Future: An Intergenerational Dialogue’ said that relations between Africa and the world have to change. The president and some ministers also conveyed and stressed the message that the country and the continent as a whole are open to business and investments.

Oxfam Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima said that policy process is dominated by the rich.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Saadia Zahidi, Geraldine Joslyn Fraser-Moleketi, and Oliver Cann spoke on Gender Parity in Africa.

Njideka Harry, the President and CEO of Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) said “If Nigerian women had the same opportunity as men; they would drive the GDP up by about $13.9 billion”.

The 2015 WEF Africa was truly a gathering of global and regional business, government and political leaders who shared insights on how to bring about growth and sustainable investment to Africa.

The 2016 edition promises to be just as exciting and interesting as another exchange of profound ideas is set to hold.