Weaving the Future: Creating Africa’s Fashion Blueprint from Within

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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The African genome, one of the most genetically diverse yet understudied, holds immense potential to transform global healthcare. As the cradle of human life, Africa’s genetic diversity is key to understanding the foundations of humanity. Unlocking its secrets could lead to breakthroughs in disease treatments, drug development, and personalized medicine. However, realizing this potential will require significant financial investment, capacity building, and robust ethical frameworks to ensure Africa benefits from these advancements while preventing exploitation.

This panel seeks to answer the following questions: How can understanding the African genome save lives globally? How can Africa become a biotech leader in the genomic era? And crucially, what innovative funding models can be developed to support genomic research in Africa while ensuring equitable returns for African communities?

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Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana’s former Vice President, led the country’s digital and economic transformation. In this fireside chat, he will reflect on Ghana’s progress and its lessons for Africa, touching on digitalization, job creation, regional integration, and governance. The session will conclude with an audience Q&A.

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