Shettima, Senegal’s Bassirou Faye to attend Mandela Washington fellowship conference in Abuja

Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Senegalese President Bassirou Faye are expected to attend the inaugural conference of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN).

The conference with the theme “Shaping Africa’s future through the AfCFTA and agenda 2063” will be held in Abuja on November 20 and 21.

The organisers said the conference is expected to unite stakeholders towards establishing a sustainable development framework for Africa by focusing on its youth population.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Farida Yahaya, president of the association, said the conference is centred around three critical objectives.

Yahaya said the objectives are creating a development blueprint, reflecting on the fellowship’s achievements over the past decade, and envisioning the next 10 years of Africa’s economic growth.

She said the conference is projected to facilitate a productive dialogue with policymakers, adding that it would bridge the gap between the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and youth-driven enterprises.

She said the third objective is to promote the Helix model of development, which involves uniting government entities, non-profit organisations, and business leaders to build a cohesive framework for sustainable development.

Yahaya said young ministers from Ghana and Morocco and parliamentarians, as well as delegates from over 25 African nations, are expected to attend the conference.

The event will feature a pitch competition to spotlight innovative ideas from young Africans; a city tour for international delegates; high-level panel discussion; and the unveiling of an app that will enable young entrepreneurs to trade goods and services across Africa and with U.S. partners.

Other events are specialised workshops on open governance, press freedom, healthcare, youth and trade, entrepreneurship, and women’s development, as well as a Hall of Fame induction ceremony recognising 100 young African change-makers.