Mr. Kelvin Jiraji (with mic), speaking at the news conference on the forthcoming Africa Digital Economy Summit in Brazil. On his right is Barr Festus Nyiwon (LOC member), while Ms Juliana James and Dr Alfred Chiakor, on his left listen
By MBAFAN ADE, Abuja –
The African Union (AU) and African leaders have been urged to embrace and take advantage of the forthcoming Africa Digital Economy Summit (AfriDES), to drive economic growth and create jobs in the continent.
Scheduled to hold at the Intercontinental Hotel, Alameda Santos, 1123 Sao Paulo, Jardim Paulista, Brazil, from 27th – 31st October, 2024, the Summit, with the theme: “Digital Transformation for Sustainable Growth: Africa’s Path to a Connected Future,” is a strategic vision of the Group of 20 Industrialized Nations (G-20) and is a transformative initiative to foster collaboration, innovation and development in Africa’s digital economy landscape.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Co-Chair of G20/T20 AFiDES, Mr. Kelvin Jiraji, noted that the platform would also enhance digital infrastructure across the continent and position Africa as a leader in the global digital economy.
Jirija explained that one of the priorities of the Africa Digital Economy Summit was to foster robust engagements, leverage collaboration and partnership with Heads of Government, Policymakers, FinTech Providers, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, and a broad range of Stakeholders and Key Industry Players across the globe.
“The Summit will also provide the fertile ground for a broad spectrum of Stakeholders to work in concert towards maximizing the potentials and sustainability of Africa’s vital digital economy infrastructures; while at the same time, develop and strengthen existing and new opportunities for networking, promote industry awareness, advocacy and providing support for public and private sector national and sub national digital economy and transformation interventions,” he said.
According to Jirija, “this Summit aligns with Africa’s institutional framework for achieving its Digital Economy Policy and Strategy and its implementation of the e-Government Master Plan.”
“The Summit is also particularly strategic for Africa’s e-governance and its ecosystem because Digital Economy resilience is the engine room for the implementation and articulation of economic and business policies and programs, both in the public and private domains, and serve as the catalyst for building efficiencies and capabilities to deliver on critical aspects of economic transformation, development and national re-engineering,” he said.
He further explained that the choice of sub themes, topics and the quality of resource persons invited to impact delivery, was a reflection of the seriousness attached to the forthcoming Summit.
“Top level FinTech Entrepreneurs, Digital Economy Policy Makers and Regulators, and other strategic professionals are mobilized to critically add value to the digital economy discourse in Africa and beyond,” he said.
“It is our strong expectations that 4-Day Summit will also open up viable opportunities for the regeneration of the numerous economic and other viable investment opportunities that shall create wealth, provide job opportunities and stimulate development in Africa.
“The Resolutions from this Summit shall no doubt inject fresh ideas and initiatives into the policy planning architecture to reinforce a systemized and collective framework in actualizing digital economy priority objectives,” Jiraji said.
He disclosed that the conveners were in agency consultations with some of the leading FinTech and Digital Economy Entrepreneurs, who have specialized capabilities to develop a wide range of innovative options to achieve the desired solution outcomes.
“It is also the expectation of the Summit to enhance knowledge leadership & management, regenerate investor confidence; and also boost capital growth and turnkey business startups and development,” he said.
Other members of the convener’s team were Barrister Festus Nyiwon (member of the LOC), Ms Juliana James (Media partner), Dr. Alfred Chiakor (Executive Director, Ashcraft Centre for Social Science Research) and Mr. Tom Chiahemen (Principal Consultant, Cattigan Communications).
