SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
MACKY SALL
SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE PARIS PACT FOR PEOPLES AND PLANET
PRESIDENT OF SENEGAL (2012 - 2024)
H.E. Macky Sall served as the 4th President of Senegal from 2012 to 2024. Prior to this, he served as Prime Minister of from 2004 to 2007 and President of the National Assembly from 2007 to 2008.
During his tenure, he oversaw significant infrastructure projects and economic growth, with Senegal's annual GDP increasing from $17 billion to $27 billion. Internationally, H.E. Macky Sall is known for his diplomatic efforts, including advocating for African debt cancellation and contributing to conflict resolution in the region. He also served as the chairperson of the African Union in 2022.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
GODWIN OBASEKI
GOVERNOR OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA
His Excellency Godwin Obaseki is the Governor of Edo State, Nigeria, with a distinguished career in finance spanning Investment Banking, Asset Management, Securities Trading, and public sector service. He is the founder of Afrinvest West Africa Limited (formerly SecTrust), which he led as the pioneer Managing Director from 1995.
Governor Obaseki holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classics from the University of Ibadan and an MBA in Finance and International Business from Columbia University in New York.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
CHIDO MPEMBE
SPECIAL ENVOY FOR YOUTH AT THE AFRICAN UNION
Ms. Chido Mpemba is the Youngest Diplomat in the African Union Chairperson’s Cabinet. She leads on youth affairs with the responsibility to front the voices of over 870 Million youth in the 55 Countries and Governments in Africa as the African Union Special Envoy on Youth, which was adopted at the African Union (AU) Heads of State Assembly. Recognized on the list of 100 most Influential African Women and CNN New York as Top 100, Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent, she is a Pan – African youth advocate on a mission to use her strengths, influence and voice to lead work that changes the lives of young people in communities.
SPEAKER
EMEKA EMUWA
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AFRICA FINANCE CORPORATION (AFC)
Mr. Emuwa brings a wealth of experience spread over three decades leading and transforming banking institutions across Africa. After completing a 25-year career with Citibank where he left as the Country Officer and Managing Director of Citibank in Nigeria, he went on to serve as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank of Nigeria. In this role, he led the transformation of the bank and worked successfully with the new shareholders to transform and restore one of Nigeria’s oldest institutions back to its position as a credible and strong provider of financial services.
PAST SPEAKERS
Ralph Mupita
President & CEO
MTN Group
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Director-General
WTO
Amina J. Mohammed
UN Deputy
Secretary-General
Dr. Albert Zeufack
Chief Economist for Africa World Bank
Tony Elumelu
Chairman
United Bank for Africa
Vera Songwe
Chair in UNI Economic Commission for Africa
Nunu Ntshingila
CEO
Facebook Africa
Lamido Sanusi
Former Governor
Central Bank of Nigeria
Fred Swaniker
Founder
African Leadership Group
Jeffrey D. Sachs
World Renowned Economist & Author
ABOUT COLUMBIA AFRICA CONFERENCE
The Columbia Africa Conference is a student-led collaboration between Columbia Business School, Columbia Engineering, Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia Law School, and the wider Columbia Africa community. Over the last 21 years, we have provided a forum for meaningful engagement and thought-provoking discussions. This year, you’ll hear from an impressive lineup of speakers from across the continent and we expect participants to leave with a renewed sense of hope for Africa’s success and to be inspired to do their part in moving the continent forward.
PAST EDITIONS
