In February, I was proud to be able to attend the Harvard Business School African Business Conference as co-chairman of the Yalethom Black Business Alliance. I went with my classmate Oluwafemi Ayambai and Dean Okoduwa, co-chair of Yale Som's Africa Business and Society Club. The presence of student leaders, like me, spanning multiple worlds while deeply connected to Africa, underscored the power of involvement in the entire Pan-African diaspora. At the meeting, we felt more than just attendees. We are part of the story and are responsible for building unity using the insights we gain within the classroom.
This year's theme, “Beyond Borders,” invited us to rethink the future of Africa. Can breaking barriers between nations really accelerate economic growth, trigger innovation and promote sustainable development across the continent? The answers that echoed through every panel, keynote and coffee chat have overwhelmed Yes, but there is a warning. It requires intentional leadership, joint vision, and merciless commitment to hard work.
Growing up in America in a Nigerian family, I realized I was walking the tightrope between two identities and felt I was mutilated when I was told I wasn't “African.” The tension, carried quietly and often unspoken, deeply examined my experience at the African Business Conference, personally and deeply.
The day began with a strong keynote entitled “AFCFTA Opportunity: Is Africa Ready to Unleash a New Era of Trade?” It features Elsie Kanza, US Ambassador to Tanzania, and Banjioiralan Oyeinka, a senior special advisor to the African Development Bank Group. The African Continental Free Trade Area, the world's largest zone, consists of 55 countries, has a promise to reshape Africa's economic situation, but the vision does not realize itself. As the panelists remind us, we must stand up to the difficult truth. Trade harmonization without physical infrastructure is a paper dream. Still, hope lies in regional cooperation, policy alignment, empowering local businesses that can expand across borders.
Throughout the conference, the breakout sessions provided a kaleidoscope of insights across sectors such as music, fashion, governance, technology, and healthcare. This was especially important to me as a dual MPH/MBA candidate. In the African Sustainable Healthcare Delivery Model, I focused in particular on non-communicable diseases and how local pharmacies can rethink as frontline healthcare providers. The focus on investing in local drug production and building local health ecosystems reminded us that the future of Africa's health must be built for people, not just for people.
Another outstanding panel was to “Redefine the narrative: African creatives schematize new paths.” As someone who once felt “not African,” witnesses artists, designers and digital pioneers, regaining their identity on their own terms was a perfect moment. These creatives are not waiting for verification. They have built their own tables, audiences and platforms, and do so without losing the credibility that makes African storytelling so powerful.
His second keynote speech with former Ghanaian vice president Dr. Mahamdu Baumia, “Governance and Economic Change,” brought the conversation back to leadership and accountability. His reflection on Ghana's journey on digitalization and job creation reminded me that governance must be not a passive concept but rather be deeply rooted in the reality of the people it serves. One of my favourite sessions, “Crossover Border: The Global Rise of African Sports and Games,” has undergone a personal shift. As someone who grew up in Madden, FIFA and after-school soccer practice, the intersection of my childhood passions and continental games was electricity. The panel unlocks opportunities for infrastructure, talent development and tech-driven platforms, bringing African athletes and gamers to the world stage. Take it home? The African influence on global culture is already here. You need a system tailored to your talent.
The day ended with delicious food (physical pate, plantain chips) and warm conversations with fellow friends from around the world. We have looked back on the meaning of being African, sharing laughter and exchanging personal information to stay connected for the future!
This would not have been possible without the support of Yale Som's Office of Inclusion and Diversity and its external partnership & travel initiative. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend and the space to return with a clear sense of how I can grow, be challenged and contribute to the SOM community. At Yale we talk about business and society's leads. Such conferences remind us that “society” includes the nations we represent, the culture we carry, and the future we imagine.
About OID's external partnerships and travel initiatives:
Yale Som and Oid are committed to strengthening equity and inclusion with the student community and external partners. As students prepare themselves to become business and society leaders, it is important to build relationships with potential collaborators, continue to inform current trends in the industry, and introduce expertise to a larger audience. To promote this, we have launched external partnerships and travel initiatives. This allows SOM students to sponsor attendance at national and international affinity-based conferences.
