Toyosi Akerele Ogunsiji to speak at the 2017 Harvard University Africa Development Conference

Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, an impassioned Nigerian Entrepreneur and Founder of Rise Networks, a Leading Social Enterprise in Africa with a focus on Youth Development and Education Technology has been announced as a Speaker in the 8th Annual African Development Conference scheduled to hold at the Prestigious Harvard University.

The power packed event, which will take place between March 31 and April 2, 2017, will explore creative, collaborative approaches to African challenges and opportunities. These include governance and human rights, education, infrastructure, public health, gender and income inequality, Africa’s economies and urban development.

The conference will see a congregation of policy makers, innovative business leaders, accomplished academics, leaders of civil society organizations and other distinguished individuals from around the World foster productive dialogue about Africa’s future.

Toyosi, a 2017 Mason Fellow and Mid-Career Master in Public Administration Candidate at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government where she is also Vice President for International Student Affairs and Chair of the International Student Affairs Committee, will be bringing her wealth of experience as a Human Development Expert and as one of the most respected emerging leaders of Africa’s new generation to speak on Human Rights and Women Empowerment at the event.

She continues to mainstream crucial conversations on ways through which Science, Technology and Innovation can drive Africa’s Economic Growth, Education System and Social Cohesion while also calling on African Governments to increase their commitments to creating and sustaining Economic .opportunities for marginalised groups like Women and Youth.

Toyosi is one of the distinguished Women and Thought Leaders drawn from across Africa to speak at the event alongside other notable Speakers including Martine Tchitchihe, a Human Rights Advocate, Karen Sherman, President of the Akilah Institute and Tshidiso Ramogale, Founder and Executive Director of Change SA. Folorunso Alakija, Africa’s Richest woman, Former President John Dramani Manama of Ghana and Thuli Madonsela, South Africa’s Public Protector who faced death threats in her quest to bring inconsistencies to the fore will deliver the Keynote addresses at the Program..

Her participation at the African Development Conference is coming on the heels of her trailblazing efforts in raising a new generation of educated, empowered and engaged youth on the Continent in addition to her rousing speech at the recently held Harvard Business School Africa Business Conference 2017 where she proferred solutions to the Challenge Of Leadership In Africa alongside Yasmin Kumi of Africa Foresight Group, Graham Sinclair, Sustainable investments expert and Ronak Gopaldas, Head of Country Risk, Rand Merchant Bank (South Africa).

The Africa Development Conference is being organised by The Africa: Imagining New Frontiers for Collaboration and supported by gold sponsors such as Harvard University Centre for African Studies, HLB International, ETG, OCP Africa. Other partners include African Food and Peace Foundation, Harvard Kennedy School, Centre for Public Leadership, DOS Grant Fund.