The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement creates the largest free trade area in the world, with the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035. Participating member countries have a major opportunity to reshape their economies through the reduction of tariffs and implementation of trade facilitation policies and regulatory measures. How can the vision and work of the diaspora align with AfCFTA to build long-term growth and intra-Africa investment?
Speakers
Lamine Savadogo
President, Marison Energy Systems (Moderator)
Lamine Savadogo
President, Marison Energy Systems (Moderator)
Lamine Savadogo is the Founder and President of Marison Energy Systems, an International Business Development firm bridging the United States and Africa through technological, commercial and financial partnerships. With over three decades of cross-sectoral experience spanning government, academia and the corporate sector, Mr Savadogo has been a transformative force in strengthening US-Africa business relations.
As Global Ambassador for International Programs at the Edison Electric Institute, Mr Savadogo leads strategic engagements in Electricity Diplomacy advocating electrification as a pathway to industrialization and economic development across the African continent.
His non-profit organization, Sun Powered Water Works has already provided clean drinking water to thousands in Rural Mali, demonstrating his deep commitment to sustainable impact.
Mr Savadogo’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including, induction in the World Trade Hall of Fame, the Order of National Merit of Mali, and awards from the Edison Electric Institute, the Export Import Bank of the United States.
A fluent Speaker of Bambara, French, English and Portuguese, Mr Savadogo brings exceptional global insight, cultural fluency, and strategic foresight to every speaking engagement.
Join us as he shares his vision for energy-led transformation, sustainable development, and the future of US-Africa collaboration
Sherif Nessim
Managing Partner, Jedar Capital
Sherif Nessim
Managing Partner, Jedar Capital
Sherif is a tech operator turned investor. He worked in technology and telecom domains for more than 22 years across Emerging markets in Africa & Middle East. In 2020 he founded Jedar Capital, an early stage VC fund focusing on Africa. He also started one of the first mainstream syndicates in the MENA region investing in more than 18 startups across Africa.
Osagie Imasogie
Chairman, Quoin Advisors
Osagie Imasogie
Chairman, Quoin Advisors
Osagie Imasogie was appointed by President Biden as an inaugural member of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement. In addition, Osagie is Chairman of the Investment Bank and SEC/FINRA registered Broker-Dealer, Quoin Capital and Quoin Advisors. Osagie is a co-founder of PIPV Capital, a private equity firm that is focused on the life sciences vertical and has invested over $1 billion into that industry. Prior to co-founding PIPV Capital, Osagie held senior commercial and R&D positions within pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, SmithKline Beecham, and DuPont Merck. He has also been a Price Waterhouse Corporate Finance Partner as well as a practicing attorney with a leading U.S. law firm.
Osagie is a serial entrepreneur and investor who serves on the board of a number of financial institutions such as FS-KKR Capital Corp and Haverford Trust, institutions that cumulatively manage over $28 billion. He is an adviser to Brown Advisory, a firm that manages in excess of $140 billion.
In addition, Osagie is a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Executive Committee of the University, and is also the Chairman of the Board of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he is an Adjunct Professor of Intellectual Property.
Dr. Wilmot Allen
Founder, Chairman, VentureLift Africa
Dr. Wilmot Allen
Founder, Chairman, VentureLift Africa
Based in Nairobi and Washington DC., Wilmot is an entrepreneur, investor and political economist. Wilmot has invested or managed capital totaling over $4 billion in emerging markets and the U.S. He has experience across nearly 50 countries in Africa. As Founder and Chairman of VentureLift Africa (VLA), Wilmot has been a pioneer in Diaspora commercial engagement with Africa, having established vehicles to facilitate investment (Diaspora Angel Investor Network), trade (AGOATradeWorks and Commerce Hubs) and FDI. He is also a healthcare entrpreneur and prior investor with a fund targeting healthcare infrastructure and renewable energy. He began his emerging market investment career with the IFC and was a tech VC investor, M&A investment banker and creative executive in Hollywood. He is co-author of the forthcoming book, African Sovereign Wealth Funds and the New state Capitalism in Africa.
