Harry Hare, executive director, DEMO Africa (right)
The United States (US) Department of State and the US Africa Development Foundation (USADF) have announced their support for selected Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) entrepreneurs to attend and participate at the DEMO Africa conference in Lagos, Nigeria, on September 25 and 26.
This was announced at a gathering of 500 young African leaders, a forum that was addressed by President Barack Obama.
The support has been welcomed by the DEMO Africa secretariat and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Nigeria.
LOC chairman Yele Okeremi said the State Department and USADF’s drive to support young African entrepreneurs served to catalyse the economic growth of the continent.
“We are excited that our efforts to grow Africa are getting support from critical quarters. Support for startup entrepreneurs is a solid move towards making Africa a first world given that the growth of the continent largely rests on the actions and decisions of these young entrepreneurs.”
DEMO Africa executive producer Harry Hare said African entrepreneurs need to work together to find world class solutions to needs on the continent.
“We look forward to sharing the platform with YALI entrepreneurs. I am sure that every attendee will leave having been further enriched with ideas,” he said.
Also on the cards from the State Department are plans to set up four Regional Leadership Centres in Kenya, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa. The centres, which are set to begin operations in early 2015, are meant to improve the availability and quality of leadership training programmes and professional development opportunities for young African leaders.
