Events
African Philanthropy Forum hosts first Independent Conference to discuss Solutions to Challenges in Africa
L-R: Amb. Stuart Symington, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Jane Wales, Founder, Global Philanthropy Forum, Toyin Saraki, Founder, Welbeing Foundation Africa, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, Board Chair APF, Ndidi Nwuneli Board Member APF, HRH Queen Sylvia Board member APF, Gbenga Oyebode, Board Member APF
The African Philanthropy Forum (APF) hosted the 2017 Annual Conference in Lagos from October 30th – October 31st, 2017. Fourth in the series of annual conferences, the 2017 edition was the first held by the organization as an independent entity, following its incubation by the Global Philanthropy Forum.
The event which was well attended by a diverse array of participants from across Africa and the globe discussed pertinent issues peculiar to philanthropy in Africa. The seasoned panelists, more importantly, sought to address the role of philanthropists in proffering solutions to the challenges facing the continent, and consequently in shaping the continent’s future.
The annual event kicked off with a cultural site visit to The NIKE Art Gallery, followed by a pre-conference reception at Terra Kulture, which featured a private viewing of “SARO The Musical”.
SARO the musical at Terra Kulture
The Conference comprised of 10 plenary sessions, a Fire Side Chat and 3 break-out sessions, all covering important facets around the theme of ‘African Philanthropy in a Changing Global Context’.
Tsitsi Masiyiwa giving the welcome address
HRH Queen Sylvia of Buganda and APF Board Member giving the Keynote address, shared the Pan-African concept of Ubuntu and the interconnectedness between all people
Speakers present at the two-day Conference included: Mo Abudu, Founder, Ebony Life TV; Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Co-Founder, African Women’s Development Fund; Kofi Appenteng, President, Africa America Institute; Bill Campbell Chairman, END Fund; Tonye Cole, Co-Founder, Sahara Group; LT. Gen T.Y Danjuma Rtd., Founder, T.Y Danjuma Foundation; Julie Essiam, CEO Ecobank Foundation; Amadou Gallo Fall, Vice President, NBA Africa; Toyin Saraki, Founder Wellbeing Foundation Africa; Stuart Symington, US Ambassador to Nigeria; George Werner, Liberian Minister of Education and other distinguished speakers.
L-R: Tsitsi Masiyiwa, Board Chair, APF, Bill Campbell, Chairman, END Fund, Ndidi Nwuneli Board Member APF, LT. Gen. T.Y Danjuma RTD, Founder, T.Y Danjuma Foundation
Participants were also engaged in practical sessions that elucidated how to monitor and evaluate philanthropic endeavors to ensure scalable impact, as well as maximizing the benefits that technology brings into the philanthropic space. A key action point from the conference was the launch of an online giving platform facilitated by APF to raise funds that will provide relief to needy communities during emergencies such as natural disasters.
Beyond the plenaries, delegates had the opportunity to connect, learn and share ideas during the networking sessions throughout the conference; thereby building relationships and fostering collaborations aimed at the inclusive and sustainable development of the African continent.
Delegates at the Conference: Adekanla Adegoke and Kenneth Macharia
At the end of the Conference, Mosun Layode, Executive Director, APF shared the vision of the organization for the upcoming year, highlighting the APF’s goal of taking its philanthropy matchmaking services a notch higher in 2018 and introducing the Affinity Groups for members with similar social development interests.
L-R:: Pai Gamde, Ndidi Nwuneli, Jane Wales, Bill Campbell, Oscar Onyema, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, HRH Queen Sylvia, Mosun Layode, Gbenga Oyebode,
To cap off the highly impactful Conference, the APF leadership was privileged to visit the Nigerian Stock Exchange to perform the Closing Gong Ceremony.
The Conference was sponsored by the Campbell Family Foundation, Dangote Foundation, Higherlife Foundation, MTN Nigeria and Oando Foundation.
The next APF Annual Conference will be hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2018.
For more information about the African Philanthropy Forum, visit www.africanpf.org.
See more pictures below.
Plenary on Migration and Natural Disasters with Innocent Chukwuma, Lamia Rashid, Zouera Youssoufou, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi & Amb. Stuart Symington
L-R, Funke Shonekan, Sumitra Aswani, Bimpe Nkontchou, Kole Shettima, Aditya Chellaram discussing family foundations and the next generation of philanthropy
Mosun Layode
The role of the media in changing
Bart Cornelissen Moky Makura and other delegates networking at the Conference
Panel on youth unemployment
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