Days after Nigerian disc jockey and musician, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, hosted an opening session at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, popular Afrobeats sensation, David Adeleke, a.k.a. Davido, is set to perform at an official event of UNGA79, marking his debut at the prestigious global forum.
The musician expressed his excitement on X: “Touchdown New York City for the #UN General Assembly… My first time attending should be interesting. Also performing tonight at one of the events! Catch me if you can!”
EARLIER, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Tony Elumelu, hosted a reception with Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), to highlight youth unemployment and hunger in Africa, on the sidelines of UNGA.
The gathering, which convened philanthropists, entrepreneurs, change makers, policymakers and global leaders, centred on two pressing themes fundamental to Africa’s transformation: providing a lasting solution to hunger and the transformative potential of entrepreneurship to eradicate poverty on the continent.
The event also introduced WFP’s philanthropic initiative, spearheaded by McCain, which aims to unite global leaders in the pursuit of Zero Hunger.
Elumelu spoke of the vital role entrepreneurship plays in fostering stability, growth and purpose. He said: “Entrepreneurship creates economic resilience and plays a critical role in preventing crises. About 783 million people are affected by hunger worldwide – this is a humanitarian issue, a global crisis. At TEF, we empower young African entrepreneurs who will build resilient economies from the ground up and drive sustainable change, ensuring prosperity even in the most fragile contexts.”
At another sideline UNGA event, founder of the Africa Women CEOs Network (AWCN), Dr Anino Emuwa, called for inclusivity in development of emerging technologies to narrow the digital divide and foster a sustainable future for all. She delivered this during the Summit of the Future Interactive Dialogue on “The Future Starts Now: Enhancing Global System For Current And Future Generations” at the UN Headquarters.
She noted that while emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) hold the potential to create new jobs and opportunities, they also pose a risk of deepening existing inequalities “if we do not act decisively.”
“Today, women occupy only 33 per cent of tech jobs, and their representation in leadership roles is even lower. As technology becomes more sophisticated and central to our economies, the exclusion of women from these spaces is not only unjust but also a significant loss to the potential of our societies,” she said.
Emphasising the necessity of bridging the digital divide in gender, the renowned women’s advancement expert called for a comprehensive approach that incorporates a gender perspective in all aspects of digital innovation and funding.
“This means prioritising investments in AI and other technologies that are designed to serve the needs of all people, ensuring these tools are free from bias and inclusive by design. We must also support female-led entrepreneurship, particularly in developing countries, by providing capital, long-term investments that prioritize impact over immediate returns,” she added.
While underscoring the need to address inherent biases in technology development, she called for robust frameworks and legislation that protect individuals from online harm and promote equitable access to digital technology.
Dr Emuwa also spoke on the necessity for multi-stakeholder collaboration among governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organisations to mobilize resources and foster technological and scientific cooperation.
“By taking decisive action now—incorporating a gender perspective in funding, promoting female leadership, and ensuring inclusive and equitable technology development—we can bridge the digital divide and create a more prosperous, just, and sustainable future for all,” she said.
Presidents and Prime Ministers of multiple countries also contributed to the dialogue. Some of them include the President of the Republic of Botswana, H.E. Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi; the President of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, H.E. Carlos Manuel Vila Nova; The President of the Federated States of Micronesia, H.E. Wesley Simina; The President of the Republic of Togo, H.E Faure Gnassingbé; The Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic of Greece, H.E. Kyriakos Mitsotakis; and the Prime Minister of Norway, H.E. Jonas Gahr Støre.
The Africa Women CEOs Network boasts a membership of over five hundred women CEOs and founders across the continent. Dr Anino Emuwa is also the MD of France-based strategy and business leadership advisory company Avandis consulting; and the founder of 100 Women@Davos, a community of impact-focused women leaders founded in collaboration the World Economic Forum.
