Cross Over Borders: The Global Rise of African Sports and Gaming

This panel delves into the powerful impact of the African diaspora in driving the expansion of African ventures. Featuring a diverse group of speakers—diaspora returnees launching businesses in Africa, to entrepreneurs scaling operations across the continent and beyond, and strategists raising international capital—this discussion will explore the unique challenges and strategies of diaspora-driven entrepreneurship. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging global networks, navigating cultural dynamics, and employing innovative funding models to effectively scale businesses and create a supportive ecosystem for pan-African and global growth

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Africa’s agricultural sector remains heavily dependent on raw commodity exports, with value addition accounting for just 10-15% of total exports. This limits the continent’s ability to fully benefit from global and regional markets for processed goods. Despite decades of efforts to improve subsistence farming, food systems and livelihoods have seen little transformation.

This panel will explore how demand-driven value addition, branding, and storytelling—supported by the right investments and ecosystem partnerships—can drive sector growth, enhance food security, and unlock economic potential. Panelists from across the value chain will discuss key gaps, opportunities, and actionable pathways to create and capture value in Africa’s agricultural ecosystem.

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Is Africa moving toward greater unity or deeper division? This closing session will assess geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and regional progress, from the Sahel crisis and DRC-Rwanda conflict to the growth of AfCFTA and digital transformation. A panel of experts will tackle tough questions: Are regional organizations adapting? What role should business, government, and civil society play? And is Beyond Borders a vision to pursue — or a concept to rethink?

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