Bridging the Gap – Key Takeaways from the Johns Hopkins Africa Business Conference
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The Africa Business Conference 2023, organized by Johns Hopkins Carey Business School,
was a phenomenal event and undoubtedly the best conference of the year. It brought together
top business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics from across the continent to
discuss the latest trends and best practices for driving economic growth in Africa. Held on July
17th, 2023, at the Carey Business School campus in Baltimore, Maryland, the conference
exceeded all expectations.
The opening panel, moderated by Dr. Jill Humphries, featured Melvin Foote, an expert in US-
Africa relations, who discussed the incredible shift in the relationship between Africa and the
Diaspora. He expressed optimism about the future of US-Africa relations but also highlighted
that young people should fight for every inch to continue the progress. The plenary session
featuring James Calvin, Melvin Foote, Ambassador Koomson, and Dr. Jill Humphries discussed
the promising future of Africa and US relations. They also reminded the attendees that we
should focus on the economic development of Africa and not forget that the economy is the core
reason for Africa having no leverage on the global stage, something that may be addressed by
a pan-African approach.
The policy and development finance panel, which included Luke Cooper, John Lewis, and Fikru
Boghossian, focused on the different facets of financing economic development in Africa. They
discussed the role of technology in driving economic growth and the importance of the right
regulatory framework to unlock access to capital for the growing African economies. This
discussion provided critical insights that can help policymakers and entrepreneurs tackle the
most pressing issues facing African economies.
The youth and entrepreneurship panel featuring Madelle Kangha, Lanre Ogungbe, and Miles
Henderson was another highlight of the conference. They shared their inspiring stories of
entrepreneurship and how they are solving problems on the African continent. They highlighted
the need for a network of institutions to support entrepreneurs and provide access to VCs to
help their ideas grow. They also emphasized the role of governments in helping to facilitate
entrepreneurship on the continent.
The health and innovation panel, moderated by Rebkha Atnafou, featured Kate Wright, Dr.
Wilfred Ngwa, and Hon. Eng James Rege. They discussed various innovations and their
potential to transform the health sector on the continent. They also underlined the importance of
deep technology ideas such as space-tech and biotech in driving innovation and economic
growth in Africa.
The conference was complemented by engaging panel discussions, breakout sessions, and
networking opportunities that enabled participants to exchange ideas and establish relationships
that will undoubtedly lead to future collaborations. The keynote speakers, panelists, and
breakout session leaders were all industry experts who provided critical insights into the most
pressing issues facing African economies.
In summary, the Africa Business Conference 2023 was an unforgettable event that exceeded all
expectations. It was undoubtedly the best conference of the year and provided a platform for
business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics to exchange ideas and best
practices for promoting economic growth in Africa. We thank all the participants, keynote
speakers, panelists, and breakout session leaders who made this conference possible, and we
look forward to the next Africa Business Conference. Together, let us drive Africa's economic
growth through innovation and entrepreneurship!
