Latest news with #AfricaCEOForum
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public and Private Meet at the Africa CEO Forum
The Africa CEO Forum 2025 took place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and saw 2,000 business leaders, investors and policy makers take part in two days of conferences, debates and high-level meetings dedicated to highlighting the driving role of the private sector in the development of the continent. We hear from Ghanaian President John Mahama and discuss the biggest takeaways from the gathering.
Bloomberg
08-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Public and Private Meet at the Africa CEO Forum
The Africa CEO Forum 2025 took place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and saw 2,000 business leaders, investors and policy makers take part in two days of conferences, debates and high-level meetings dedicated to highlighting the driving role of the private sector in the development of the continent. We hear from Ghanaian President John Mahama and discuss the biggest takeaways from the gathering. (Source: Bloomberg)
IOL News
03-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How stablecoins are rapidly reshaping Africa's money sovereignty
A notable evolution among African governments has been the significant strides in digital asset regulation. Image: File. The recent 2025 Africa CEO Forum marked a turning point in digital finance discussions, as business and policy leaders highlighted the growing role of stablecoins and digital assets in shaping monetary sovereignty, cross-border trade and financial inclusion across the continent. This was according to Gillian Darko, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at Yellow Card, who noted that while discussions at last year's Africa CEO Forum largely revolved around the speculative potential of blockchain, this year's event marked a decisive shift, from theoretical discourse to strategy-driven implementation. 'In previous years, conversations focused on blockchain's possibilities, but in 2025, the emphasis was on practical applications, particularly in the realms of stablecoins and AI. The discussion revealed that financial innovation, including digital currencies, is increasingly viewed as foundational to governance and public service delivery.' she said. This perspective was reinforced by Ghana's Minister of Communication, Samuel Nartey George, who emphasised that the future of governance must incorporate digital currencies and AI to enhance transparency and efficiency. A tangible reality Darko said that these sentiments resonated across the forum, reinforcing how digital tools have evolved from niche, frontier technologies to central economic instruments, underscoring the fact that stablecoins is not just a theoretical concept. but is already a tangible reality in countries like Nigeria and Ghana and other emerging markets in Africa. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ A notable evolution among African governments has been the significant strides in digital asset regulation. The Bank of Ghana announced that it will commence regulation of stablecoins and digital assets by September 2025, following the draft guidelines issued in August 2024. The finalised framework will introduce licensing requirements, anti-money laundering compliance and joint oversight with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 'This shift reflects a broader trend across Africa, where nations like Ghana and Rwanda are being recognised for their investments in digital infrastructure and policy frameworks. This highlighted that cross-border digital alignments, including AI and digital assets, must be a priority, not a luxury, if African governments want sovereign control over future economic levers,' Darko said. 'The growing consensus is clear: regulations should support innovation, not stifle it. Ghana's approach aligns with this sentiment, ensuring that digital finance remains a tool for transparency, efficiency and economic empowerment rather than an unregulated frontier.' Foundational pillar of sovereignty Given the increased focus on the adoption and regulation of digital assets, stablecoins are quietly emerging as a foundational pillar of sovereignty in Africa. At first glance, stablecoins might seem unrelated to supply chain resilience, but Africa's sovereignty will depend on how it manages its infrastructure, including payments. 'By enabling African companies to transact without relying on volatile local currencies or US dollar dependencies, stablecoins offer a practical solution that aligns seamlessly with Africa's ambitions for seamless intra-continental payments,' Darko added. 'Throughout the Forum, I observed synergies; ways in which this technology could be integrated into broader economic frameworks. The key takeaway remains that Africa must build infrastructure that works for its own unique challenges, rather than adopting external models that don't fit its realities.' She added that, across multiple industries, new thinking continues to emerge on how digital assets can be integrated into practical solutions, reinforcing Africa's financial sovereignty and cross-border efficiency. As these discussions evolve, the question remains: How can different sectors leverage this technology to build resilient, inclusive financial ecosystems? Cater to Africa's tech -savvy youth 'The next phase in this ecosystem must cater to the growing, tech-savvy youth population in Africa, which is building massive businesses and driving economic expansion. Data published by the International Monetary Fund shows that by 2050, one in four people globally will be African, with consumer expenditure projected to reach billions. This demographic shift demands a financial ecosystem that keeps pace with their ambitions,' Darko said. 'As a result, regulation will advance, infrastructure will improve, and digital financial solutions must evolve to support Africa's next economic leap. The foundation has been laid; now it is about scaling it to match the aspirations of a rapidly growing, digitally sophisticated population.' 'The momentum is undeniable as Africa is moving at an unprecedented pace, and witnessing this transformation firsthand is both exciting and inspiring,' Darko said. Gillian Darko, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at Yellow Card. Image: Supplied.
Morocco World
29-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco's Nadia Fettah Alaoui Named Finance Minister of the Year at African Banker Awards
Rabat – Morocco's Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui received the Finance Minister of the Year award on Wednesday in Abidjan during the 2025 African Banker awards. She received the prize during a ceremony that took place on the sidelines of the African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meetings. The award recognized the minister's efforts in implementing prudent macroeconomic policies and reforms seeking to boost a sustainable investment climate. Fettah Alaoui has been serving as Minister of Economy since her appointment in 2021 as part of Aziz Akhannouch's cabinet. Born in 1971 in Rabat, the Moroccan minister is a businesswoman who also served as the Minister of Tourism under Saad Eddine El Othmani's government. A member of the National Rally of Independents Party (RNI), Fettah Alaoui pursued her higher education at HEC Paris. She began her professional career at the multinational Arthur Andersen company. Alaoui also held the position of the General Manager of the Sanlam Pan Africa Group in 2017. By 2018, she was also elected as the CEO of the Year in 2018 by the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan. Several other figures received recognitions at the African Banker Awards, including Patricia Ojangole, Managing Director of Uganda Development Bank, who received the Banker of the Year award. The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria received the Central Bank Governor of the Year, while Idrissa Nassa, CEO of Coris Bank International, received the lifetime achievement award. Tags: Nadia Fettahnadia fettah alaoui
Business Insider
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
HERitage Collective: A bold new platform to elevate African women's leadership launches HER.Circle event series in Abidjan
Abidjan, 11 May 2025 – Against the backdrop of the Africa CEO Forum, a new power convening made its debut: the flagship event of the HERitage Collective. Held in the heart of Abidjan, the evening brought together a dynamic mix of influential and emerging African women leaders alongside their male allies for a night of intentional dialogue, bold storytelling, and strategic alliance-building. "The HERitage Collective is a direct response to an urgent market gap," said Sally Nnamani, Co-Founder of the HERitage Collective. "Across the continent, too many talented and ambitious African women are locked out of the strategic networks that unlock capital, mentorship, and influence. This isn't just a social issue, it's a missed investment opportunity and a structural inefficiency that holds back growth. Through curated experiences like we seek to convene powerhouse women, emerging leaders, and male champions to spur collaboration, visibility, all while building a pipeline of investable talent and accelerating inclusive leadership across the continent.' The Collective's roots trace back to September 2024 during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Noticing how many emerging African women leaders well not represented at high-level events, Habibah A. Waziri, pan-African strategist and co-founder, created a WhatsApp group to circulate personal invites and contacts to a trusted circle of women reshaping Africa's business landscape. That small act sparked something bigger. Within months, the group evolved into a transcontinental platform connecting emerging female changemakers across Africa and the diaspora, bound by a mission to bridge the gap between ambition and access. A Room Without Filters, But Full of Intention The inaugural theme, 'Power. Access. Influence: Closing the Gap Between Ambition & Access,' set the tone. Huguette Umutoni, founder of N'gage Africa and co-founder of the Collective, opened the evening with a call for authenticity and bold leadership. "Our collaboration with HERitage Collective was a rare and powerful moment, women were the majority in the room," said Maëliss Blah, Sales & Marketing Manager at La Résidence Abidjan, the city's premier private members club. "We heard voices that are often left out of the conversation. These women though discreet, carry influence, and I hope more of them find space here." Over the course of the evening, participants engaged deeply with three strategic pillars: Visibility & Voice: Elevating African women where their lived experience and cultural capital shape decisions across sectors. Access & Exposure: Breaking down structural gatekeeping to unlock networks and funding. Capacity & Collective Growth: Investing in the skills, systems, and infrastructure that allow African women not just to participate—but to lead. "We don't need to be empowered. We need to be trusted, invested in, and heard," said Fatima Soleiman, Co-Founder and CEO of Mr Roof Rwanda. " is a shared commitment to build the pipelines that connect women to the rooms where futures are shaped." This wasn't just a dinner. It was a strategic intervention. Led by Waziri, Umutoni, Nnamani, and Soleiman, the HERitage Collective is more than a network, it is a launchpad. Its pillars are clear, its intentions bold: Afetsi Awoonor, Executive Director of the Afetsi Awoonor Foundation, echoed the sentiment: "When African women rise, entire communities follow. This initiative celebrates power, purpose, and possibility. We're proud to stand with them." The evening closed with a collective toast, an affirmation of heritage, sisterhood, and the commitment to open doors, recommend, endorse, and invest. "Any movement that champions women's growth is a no-brainer for us," said Valerie Obaeze, CEO of R&R Skincare. Female-led brand LYVV Cosmetics joined early, recognizing the urgency of the moment and investing without hesitation. For Barry Johnson, Founder of 7 Generations Africa and an early sponsor, the vision aligned perfectly:"We're building structures for African families to thrive for 100, even 200 years. is a powerful expression of that long-view leadership." With more editions already in development across Africa, the HERitage Collective plans to grow the series alongside major global forums, amplifying African women's leadership, expanding their networks, and accelerating their pathways to power.
