Talking about opportunity in Africa proves highly inspiring

Let’s Talk Africa, the event that brings together inspiring African entrepreneurs, politicians and change agents took place in Cambridge last Saturday. The event was first hosted in the city in May 2010 and continues to draw African professionals, graduates and students as well as local and UK-based businesses interested in Africa.

Just under 100 delegates attended the event, which is organised by Cambridge company, TIEC in collaboration with other African student societies at the Cambridge University and key partners including Elevations Network.

Henry Bonsu, co-founder of Colourful Radio and ex-BBC, chaired the event again this year – he has done this since 2010 when the event was hosted at the Cambridge Union.

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert welcomed the guests and keynote speakers to the city. He identified the role that Cambridge has played in educating leading African professionals and business people as well as the opportunities to further build links between the UK and the continent.

Keynote speakers this year included Tom Ilube, founder and chairman, African Gifted Foundation and Samuel Kasumu, co-founder Trustee Elevations Network. Mr Kasumu, who also works for the Conservative Party and has been part of key delegations to Africa recently, spoke on the topic ‘Africa Rising’.

Cambridge-educated African oil entrepreneur and philosopher, Osamede Okhomina continued from where he stopped in May 2010 with a talk suggesting that, despite all the rhetoric of progress, there are still some difficult steps to be taken.

Other speakers included Ian Sanderson of Cambridge-based charity-Afrinspire, who believes that there is a lot the West can learn from Africa.

CEO of Anabel Group, Nicholas Okoye, spoke on the ‘Leaders Africa needs’. The summary was that Africa needs her educated graduates to return home to make a difference.

Olugbenga Ogunbode, co-founder and CEO of TIEC, said: “The event this month is even more significant as we mark 50 years of the African Union and as the world looks to Africa, an Africa that has many positive stories to share with the world.”

Let’s Talk Africa is sponsored by TIEC in collaboration with various African student bodies and by Nestle Nigeria, Reconnect Africa, EER and Elevations Network.

Source: Cambridge News