African Philanthropy Forum organises learning session in Lagos

The African Philanthropy Forum (APF) in partnership with the Ford Foundation and Chike Okoli Foundation hosted a learning session in Lagos on Sunday.

The event themed ‘Strategic Giving: Lessons from Global Philanthropists’ engaged mostly Nigerian philanthropists and social investors on philanthropic best practices across the world.

In a statement, the organisers said participants explored steps on creating strategies for philanthropic endeavours and collaborations towards amplified social impact.

“A variety of attendees from renowned philanthropists, visionary thought leaders and heads of foundations to philanthropic advisors, were engaged in thought-provoking discussions that highlighted raising the next generation of philanthropists, unlearning old ways of giving, adopting tactical approaches to philanthropy and exploring various options for philanthropic efforts,” the statement read.

In her opening remarks, Stella Okoli, founder, Emzor Pharmaceuticals and Chike Okoli Foundation, emphasised the need for African philanthropy and cross-sectoral collaboration in exponentially advancing Africa’s political, economic and social scenery.

“I believe that African philanthropy can play a pivotal role in the advancement of the African continent. I refer to philanthropy not merely as donating money but as active participation through passionately and strategically giving your time, expertise and resources towards making the African continent a worthy bequeathal for generations to come,” she said.

Innocent Chukwuma, regional director, West Africa, Ford Foundation, highlighted the peculiarities and concerns of philanthropy in Nigeria and strategies to mitigate them.

“Although Nigerians are naturally philanthropists irrespective of financial status, it is important to research, document and measure philanthropic endeavours to avoid duplicated efforts with no impact,” he said.

Una Osili, a professor and associate dean for research and international programmes at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, was the keynote speaker.

Osili shared interesting and educative insights on philanthropy across the world. She noted that individual givers constitute the highest percentage of givers in the United States as opposed to corporate philanthropists.

“To develop a strategy for philanthropic work, philanthropists must be hungry for information, seek advice and learn from experts,” she said.

“To create a philanthropic legacy there is a need for philanthropists to involve their children and younger
relatives in their philanthropic endeavours.”

The event provided an opportunity to share about APF’s work across the continent and invite guests to the 2017 APF annual conference which is holding on October 30 & 31 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Themed ‘African Philanthropy in a Changing Global Context’, the event will bring together over 150 philanthropists, social investors and social entrepreneurs from across Africa to discuss strategies for shaping the continent’s future through their influence and role as catalysts.

APF was launched in 2014 with the intention to build and continuously expand a peer learning community of African strategic philanthropists and social investors committed to inclusive and sustainable development throughout the African Continent.