Innovation, resilience, enterprise top discussions at African Conversation

Innovation, resilience, enterprise, can-do spirit and, of course, limitless potential of Africa seized rare attention, yesterday, at the Amphitheatre, UBA House, Lagos, where stakeholders converged for the African Conversation.

The event hosted by United Bank for Africa Plc as part of its activities to mark Africa Day was a moment for Africans to share thoughts on pan-African issues.

It was also a rare opportunity for women to speak frankly about the challenges facing the female folks, their exploits and their strength in leading the growth the continent so much desires. And the panel members, who were also successful female executives and entrepreneurs, all had unique perspectives on the Africa story.

Setting the tone for the discussion, the Group Managing Director of UBA, Oliver Olawuba, could not be more precise when he told the audience that the conversation was around the gap between challenges and opportunities of Africa as an economy, business space and people.

Highlighting the historical role the bank has played in meeting the entrepreneurial dreams of young Africans and building a resilient economy, Olawuba said the financial institution would continue to develop products that address “African challenges” and contribute to the growth of the economy.

On lifting the girl child and bridging the gender gap, an issue that has seized global attention, he said the bank has the highest proportion of females on its board – over 50 per cent.

Indeed, the bank, with its trappings, has held a space in African enterprise.

For instance, thousands of young entrepreneurs across the continent have benefited from the yearly grants of its Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who was at the conversation “to observe”.

Each year, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) selects recipients from competitive and life-changing business pitches. Winners are given $5000 each plus access to mentorship programmes and other resources to grow their businesses.

At the African Conversation, UBA Africa’s Chief Executive Officer as well as first bank chief executive in Ghana, Abiola Bawuah; President/Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, Owen Omogiafo; a techie, Folusho Gbadamosi; Creative Director/Founder of Banke Kuku, Banke Kuku-Lawson and the now famous foodpreneur and chef, Hilda Bassey, took turns to highlight the opportunities in the regional economy for those who dare.

The amazons have different stories to tell about the road to their successes. But there was a consensus, which reverberated all through the discourse, there is no ceiling for those who dare, aspire and do not stop innovating or reinventing their businesses, not even when they are on top of their careers.