Tony Elumelu to feature at Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York

Former US president Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton, former US secretary of state, have announced the 2023 edition of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting.

The meeting will be held from September 18 to September 19 in New York City.

Launched by the former president in 2005, CGI consists of a community of “doers” who are taking action to make a tangible difference in people’s lives around the world.

The community includes organisations across government, business, and civil society; established and emerging leaders; activists and advocates; community workers and those at the front lines of pressing global challenges.

Participants expected to be featured include José Andrés, founder, World Central Kitchen; Orlando Bloom, UNICEF ambassador; Albert Bourla, CEO, Pfizer; Jesper Brodin, chairman and CEO, INGKA Holding; Matt Damon, co-founder, Water.org; and Tony Elumelu, founder and chair, The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Others include Ilan Goldfajn, president, Inter-American Development Bank; Filippo Grandi, United Nations high commissioner for refugees; Ashley Judd, author and goodwill ambassador, UNFPA; and Karlie Kloss, entrepreneur and founder of Kode With Klossy.

In a letter on Saturday, the Clintons celebrated the progress and impact made by CGI members and expressed the importance of partnership and persistence in making a difference in people’s lives.

“This year’s meeting will focus on what it takes to keep going—to maintain and advance progress, in spite of the difficulties that arise, and increase our capacity to cross the divides and make common cause with one another wherever possible to build a stronger future for all,“ the letter reads.

“At CGI’s annual meeting, we’ll hear from those who are tackling some of today’s most pressing issues, including climate change, health inequities, food insecurity, economic inequality, threats to democracy around the world, and record-breaking refugee displacement.

“We will examine ways to channel energy and investment to scale solutions that are already improving people’s lives and explore how tools like AI can be responsibly harnessed for good.

“As always, the focus will be on what we can do, not what we can’t—and will highlight how even seemingly small actions, when taken together, can turn the tide on even our most stubborn challenges.”