African Business Conference Highlights Opportunities for Investment and Business Growth in Africa

The African Student Association (ASA) at Bentley is aiming to reshape perceptions of doing business in Africa. The student group’s African Business Conference, themed “Investing in Africa: Igniting Initiative,” saw a turnout of over 100 attendees who gathered to discuss Africa’s current economy and opportunities for growth. 

“ASA holds an annual gala to showcase African culture through fashion, music and traditions, but last year we decided to create another event to highlight business and career opportunities in Africa,” said Kojo Acheampong Danquah ’24, conference executive director and Finance major. “The goal of this year’s theme is to move beyond the conventional discussions of challenges faced by the continent and instead focus on opportunities around sustainable financial growth, the rise of new technologies and media and natural resources — and ways to generate actionable solutions by bringing together young minds with industry experts.” 

That mission supports data emphasizing the continent’s economic opportunities. The United Nations, for example, reported that Africa’s population is predicted to quadruple from 1.19 billion in 2015 to 4.39 billion by 2100. Given the projected population boost, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said “the continent is emerging as a magnet for consumer markets and products.” UNCTAD also highlighted opportunities regarding Africa’s vast reserves of critical minerals — including aluminum, cobalt, copper, lithium and manganese — needed for high-tech and green products like smartphones and solar panels. 

IGNITING INITIATIVE

The African Business Conference drew a global list of speakers, including keynote speaker Jean-Paul Adam, director for policy, monitoring and advocacy in the Office of the Special Advisor on Africa to the U.N. Secretary General. The conference also included three panel sessions with an impressive lineup of speakers: 

• Innovating Finance: Strategies for Sustainable Growth in Africa: Speakers Lebone C. Moses ’02, Bentley trustee and founder and CEO of Chisara Ventures and founding GP of GIV Capital Fund; and Ken Kanyagui, co-founder and chair of UIC Energy Ghana, discussed disruptors in the finance and investment sectors as a basis for innovative strategies for driving sustainable growth and development across Africa, including pioneering ventures and strategic investments.  
• Africa’s Resources: A Blessing or a Curse? Speakers Sherwat Elwan Ibrahim, chair of Principles for Responsible Management Education and associate professor of operations management at American University in Cairo, AUC; George Owusu, CEO at Mansa Holdings; and Ivy Apea Owusu, CEO at Cirrus Oil Services Limited, examined the role of Africa’s natural resources in the continent’s development, including the challenges of effectively managing resource wealth, the impact of resource extraction on local communities and opportunities for Africa to benefit from its resources in a sustainable way.  
• Whispers of Change: Amplifying Africa’s Story: Speakers Kweku Amoako, senior product manager at Amazon Web Services; Tara Fela-Durotoye, CEO at House of Tara International; and Funke Nnennaya Michaels, doctoral researcher in creativity and marketing communications at Newcastle University Business School, discussed the rise of and investments in new technologies, the growing influence of social media and the importance of storytelling, advocacy and empowerments in shaping public perceptions of Africa. 

Panels were moderated by Abubakr Dumbaya ’07, executive director of global capital markets at Morgan Stanley; Assistant Professor of Finance Alex Abakah; Brenda Dishani ’23, associate II at State Street; and Femi Lamptey, a local university graduate student and research assistant.

“The panels were a deep dive into innovative strategies for sustainable growth on the continent,” attendee Mich Ongwen ’26 said. “The insights shared by speakers such as Lebone Moses and Ken Kanyagui were not only enlightening but also highlighted the significant strides in amplifying Africa's story. It was invigorating to see such a strong turnout from students, professionals and thought leaders, all committed to igniting change and investing in Africa's future. Events like these reinforce the importance of global perspectives in business education, and I'm proud to be a part of a community that values and fosters such dialogue.” 

Phillip Tran ’27 called the conference “a life-changing, eye-opening experience,” while Kendrick Agyapong ’25, who is Ghanaian, said, “The ASA Business Conference made me realize that even a college student like me can make an impact in my country.” 

Moses agreed. “Thought-provoking speakers, captivating content and insightful discussions made Bentley’s annual African Business Conference, hosted by the African Student Association, an unforgettable experience. This is the level of thought-leadership and forward thinking that differentiates and propels Bentley students in our rapidly changing global marketplace.”

COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Danquah was among four students on the ASA business conference committee along with Kwame Owusu ’26, Jadon Osebre ’26 and Nana Boamah ’26, with guidance from ASA President Augustine Peprah ’24 and Co-Vice Presidents Makenna Muigai ’26 and Houria Mansour ’25. The team planned and managed the event, growing the speaker lineup to 10 this year following just three last year. The event attracted attendees from Bentley and beyond, with Tufts University student Kristen Barth among them.  

“The keynote address delivered by Jean-Paul Adam provided a comprehensive perspective on policymaking, international collaboration and fostering unity among African nations — a topic particularly resonant for me as a student passionate about policy advocacy,” Barth said following the conference. “I extend heartfelt gratitude to the Bentley African Student Association team for orchestrating such a phenomenal event that not only fostered learning and connection between students like myself but also ignited a renewed commitment to contributing meaningfully to the development of my homeland, Ghana, and the African continent at large.” 

That kind of impact stems from the commitment of ASA student teams that planned the conference, including marketing, outreach and operations. They covered aspects like budgeting, securing speakers, sponsors and facilities and conducting promotion and outreach for the event. Early in the planning process, they met with Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite.  

“Being able to host the African Business Conference — to create a platform to foster conversation not just among students, but with alumni and professionals — was so much easier having a sense of support from Bentley leadership and faculty,” Danquah said. “Knowing that President Chrite supports us essentially means that we have the ability to grow beyond where we are at right now. The future looks bright for the conference to become much bigger.”

The African Business Conference was made possible by the African Student Association with support from the Bentley Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Bentley Multicultural Center, Bentley Office of the Provost, Amica Mutual Insurance, EY and Liberty Mutual Insurance.