Oxford Africa Conference 2015. A Continent on the Move: People, Politics and Business across Borders
The Oxford union and Said Business School, University of Oxford, will host the 6th annual Oxford Africa Conference on the 22ND and 23rd of May 2015.
For Africa to establish truly sustainable growth and succeed as a world leading continent, integration and cross-border coordination between countries is vital. The benefits of uniting the continent, while still appreciating its diversity, are not solely related to economic growth but will also allow healthcare challenges to be tackled effectively, encourage responsible leadership and governance across regions, and support migration within the continent.
The Oxford Africa Conference on 22nd and 23rd May aims to explore the current stage of integration and collaboration across Africa to understand how it is affecting culture, society, business, and the economy. The theme of this year's conference, 'A Continent on the Move: People, Politics and Business across Borders', investigates new thinking and perspectives about Africa across all disciplines, including politics, business, arts, technology and academia. The conference allows speakers and delegates to gain a deep understanding and awareness of the power and potential of an interconnected African continent. From focused discussions on how the economic power of South Africa and Nigeria could create 'growth pull' for other countries, to exploring how to successfully scale businesses across regions, the conference will provide a vibrant platform for thinking about Africa's future.
The Conference also seeks to inform the way that Africa interacts with the global community and vice versa, by highlighting the continent's international nature and the influence digital technology is already having in fostering cross-border opportunities. Panel discussions will explore the impact of international initiatives in Africa, including the effects of international aid and private equity investments on the continent.
Prominent political, cultural and business figures that are confirmed as speakers include:
- H.E John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana
- Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings
- Vera Songwe, Country Director for the World Bank
- Keorapetse Kogsitsile, National Poet Laureate of the Republic of South Africa
- Acha Leke, Director of McKinsey & Company
- Ashish Thakkar, CEO of Mara Group
- The event is one of the largest and most globally recognised African conferences of its type organised by students of the long-established Oxford Africa Society and the Oxford Africa Business network of Saïd Business School.
The full list of speakers is available here: http://www.oxfordafricanetwork.org/speaker-list/ .