The Milken Institute is scaling up engagement with Africa through the New Business Council
The new program represents the Milken Institute’s regional engagement strategy focused on paving the way for stronger, more integrated partnerships across the African continent.
The Milken Institute today announced its launch Business Leaders Council of Africa. The newly formed board brings together a group of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and experts in business, technology, finance and investment, sustainability and innovation to support the Institute’s plan to deepen its network and engagements in Africa. The leaders of this council will lend their expertise and provide a high-level overview of Africa’s evolving business landscape for the Milken Institute’s broad network and stakeholders looking to strengthen their engagement in the region.
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MI Health Nigeria (Photo: Business Wire)
The establishment of the Africa Leaders Business Council underscores the Milken Institute’s efforts to strengthen its commitment to the continent and complements the Institute’s plan to consolidate its presence in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Prominent leaders from Africa have participated in various Milken Institute meetings as speakers, including the President of Kenya William Rutothe President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addoand Patrice MotsepePresident and Founder of African Rainbow Minerals and Co-Founder and President of the Motsepe Foundation, confirming the region’s growing interest in engaging with the Institute’s global audience.
“Amid the rapidly intensifying geopolitical landscape and given its enormous demographic potential, Africa is poised to play an increasingly central role in the global economy,” he said. Laura Deal Lacey, Executive Vice President who leads the international program at the Milken Institute. βWe recognize Africa’s excellence in innovation and ingenuity. We believe that the Business Leaders Council of Africa will play a key role in helping our stakeholders navigate the continent and bring a fresh perspective to addressing issues shaping the global agenda on climate change, health, access to capital and energy transition”.
Last month, Esther Krofah, Executive Vice President of Health at the Milken Institute, traveled to Nigeria to provide strategic guidance on how to prevent, detect and treat cancer early at a day-long roundtable organized by the Nigerian National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT). The Milken Institute’s engagements in Africa include the Global Financial Studies Programs, which aim to build the next generation of leaders in financial policy and the management of public financial assets. The MilkenβMotsepe Innovation Awards Programwhich invites global innovators and entrepreneurs to advance technological solutions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and the Milken Institute’s work to advance early warning systems for pandemic preparedness Kenya and innovation in health and cancer control in Nigeria.
Upcoming events meant to engage and mobilize the council include a dialogue with private investors on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, a policy round table for Nigeria on debt sustainability pathways, engagements at the Milken Institute Middle East Summit and Africa in December, as well as curated webinars and on-demand in-person and virtual discussions.
“Flutterwave’s work to enable global businesses to expand in and across Africa, as well as African businesses to fly around the world, is fully aligned with the Milken Institute’s emphasis on harnessing the power of financial technology and human and social capital,” he said. Olugbenga βGBβ Agboola, Founder and CEO of Flutterwave and member of the Africa Leaders Business Council. “We believe these are key forces that will shape Africa’s future, and through the Milken Institute Africa Business Leaders Council, we look forward to contributing our insights and perspectives to the Institute’s expanding work on the continent.”
The inaugural board members include: Africa Investment Forum; BES? CrossBoundary Group; Dangote Group; Flutterwave? Lateral Frontiers VC? Lions Head Global Partners; Prosperity Africa; Proxima Legal? RisCura? Sabi? Symbion Power? Tofino Capital; Ubuntu Team? United State Team? Women’s global banking? and YAATRA Ventures.
For more information about the Milken Institute Africa Business Leaders Council and the Institute’s work in Africa, visit www.milkeninstitute.org/africa.
Please direct any media inquiries regarding the announcement to Yeen Chong at ychong@milkeninstitute.org.
About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress toward a meaningful life. With a focus on economic, physical, mental and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resources to develop plans to address some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next. For more information, visit www.milkeninstitute.org.
Yeen Chong
ychong@milkeninstitute.org