Oliver Cann, Public Engagement, Tel.: +41 (0)79 799 3405; Email: oliver.cann@weforum.org
· Community conversations hosted by the University of Rwanda and Kigali Global Shapers Hub will bring Davos-style debate to students in Rwanda
· The third annual debates, on 10 May, aim to inspire young people that their future and that of their continent is in their hands
· Follow this event via #WEFCC. For more information about the World Economic Forum on Africa wef.ch/af16
Kigali, Rwanda, 9 May 2016 – Ahead of the 26th World Economic Forum on Africa meeting in Kigali on 11-13 May, in collaboration with the Kigali Global Shapers Hub and the University of Rwanda, the Forum will host the third annual Community Conversations at the University of Rwanda College of Business and Economics. Over 350 students from various Kigali universities will take part to be inspired by and challenge the current generation of African leaders.
For more than 25 years, the World Economic Forum has convened African leaders in business, government and civil society to shape the future of the continent. While growth on the continent in the past decade has created more opportunities for improved livelihoods, the recent declines in commodity prices, and strength of the US dollar, have demonstrated a need for African economies to do more to unlock the talent of its greatest resource, African youth.
Community Conversations have seen a number of top government officials, entrepreneurs, artists, civil society leaders and CEOs join conversations on shaping Africa’s future. This year’s participants will include: Victor Ochen, activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee; Tracy Chambers, Social Entrepreneur of the year; Donald Kaberuka, President of the AfDB (2005-2015); Aliko Dangote, Nigerian businessman, and entrepreneur Ashish J. Thakkar, among others.
The two sessions aim to inspire young people that their future and the future of their continent are in their hands:
Youth and Africa Rising
Wednesday 11 May 09.00-10.15
Throughout Africa, expanding trade and cooperation are breaking down barriers to growth and opportunity. With 70% of the population under the age of 30, what is the role of youth in Africa rising?
The Career of an Entrepreneur
Wednesday 11 May 10.45 – 12.00
Fast growth and technological change are redefining what it means to enter the workforce, opening new opportunities for a younger generation of entrepreneurs. How is Africa’s youth capitalizing on these opportunities?
Following the university conversation, this year the World Economic Forum on Africa will welcome more than 1,200 participants from over 70 countries in Kigali, Rwanda. The meeting will start at midday on 11 May through to 13 May. The theme of the meeting is Connecting Africa’s Resources through Digital Transformation.
The Co-Chairs of the 26th World Economic on Africa are: Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Abidjan; Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director, McKinsey & Company; Tony O. Elumelu, Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Nigeria; Graça Machel, Founder, Graça Machel Trust (GMT), South Africa; and Tarek Sultan Al Essa, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of the Board, Agility, Kuwait
Notes to Editors
Follow the World Economic Forum on Africa at wef.ch/af16
Read the Meeting Overview
View the best Forum Flickr photos at http://wef.ch/pix
Watch live webcasts of sessions at http://wef.ch/live
Become a fan of the Forum on Facebook at http://wef.ch/facebook
Follow the Forum on Twitter at http://wef.ch/twitter and http://wef.ch/livetweet
Follow us on Google+ at http://wef.ch/gplus
Read our blogs at http://wef.ch/agenda
View upcoming Forum events at http://wef.ch/events
Subscribe to Forum news releases at http://wef.ch/news