Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), will speak on Europe-Africa partnership at two high-level events in Europe this week. She will moderate a panel of high-level EU decision-makers, AU Commission representatives and senior experts at a joint forum organised by the Finnish Presidency and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in Brussels, Belgium. The keynote address at the event titled “Europe and Africa: Neighbours with a shared Future” will be delivered by Bill Gates. She will also join the Vice President of Nigeria H.E, Professor, Yemi Osinbajo; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway, H.E. Ine Eriksen Soreide; and Deputy President, Republic of South Africa H.E. David Mabuza at the 9th Nordic African Business Summit, in Oslo, Norway.
The BMGF Forum which is aimed at decision-makers will shape development policies in the European Union (EU), particularly its relationship with Africa. It will explore the common challenges – security, climate change, inequalities, and demography – that Europe shares with Africa as a result of their historical, geographical and economic ties and how strategically increasing funding for “human capital”, the health and education of young people can arrest these challenges. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu will share challenges of the African youth population and the work of the Tony Elumelu Foundation in overcoming those challenges and transforming the African continent through entrepreneurship.
At the Nordic-African Business Summit – the Nordic region’s leading business conference, Ifeyinwa and the other speakers will discuss the theme “Better Business Together” with an audience of over 400 delegates from more than 35 countries. The Tony Elumelu Foundation continues to lead this discussion as Africa’s leading private-sector-led philanthropy championing private-sector-led initiatives in the humanitarian and development sector. At both events, Ifeyinwa will draw on her experience as the CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, citing its tried and trusted approach to philanthropy – empowering African entrepreneurs to create jobs and revenue on the continent. The Foundation has empowered 7,531 young African entrepreneurs across the continent with seed funding, mentorship, business training and networking opportunities, creating economic hope and alleviating extremism and illegal migration challenges globally.
