The 4th Strategic Leaders’ Summit organized by Human Capital International in partnership with Shared Value Africa Initiative, Private Sector Foundation-Uganda, Sheraton Kampala hotel, Enterprise Uganda, and a host of other strategic partners, was held on 23^rd February 2022.

The summit which was under the theme “Africa’s Start-ups and SMEs in the AfCFTA Era: Rethink, Retool, Innovate, Digitalize and Transform” and hosted at the Sheraton Kampala hotel, stressed the need for African entrepreneurs to avoid the daily excuses and take steps to innovate and be part of the global and continental economy that AfCFTA offers.

A clarion call was therefore made by both distinguished panelists and Keynote Speakers for all actors in the Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem: policy makers, Financial Institutions, FinTech’s, SME and Startup entrepreneurs, to begin to take steps to build partnerships and strengthen their collaborations and take responsibility for their personal and Africa’s prosperity.

The annual Summit has as its main objective, to champion very stimulating public – private-led discussions that lead to best practices and innovation-oriented dialogue to spur growth within the SME ecosystem in the new digital economy.

This year’s summit was indeed unique, in that it attracted almost a 1000 startups and SME entrepreneurs, experts, professionals, policy makers and Bankers from 33 countries across the continent. And to explore the unique commonality and strength in our diversity as a continent, panelists and keynote speakers were selected from Uganda, Malawi, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.

As Human Capital International’s commitment to democratize the rich knowledge and insights that were shared during the summit, and to build the capacity of SMEs and Startup entrepreneurs across the continent, particularly, those who want to embrace the right mindset, passion, and the commitment to move their enterprises into the future, we begin today by sharing part one of the presentation of the main keynote Speaker for the summit, Prof. Kwaku Atuahene-Gima, the world second best Innovation and Marketing Professor, who spoke on the topic: RETHINKING AND RETOOLING IN STARTUPS & SMEs IN THE AfCFTA ERA.

There were five panel discussions in the following thematic areas:

1. Panel Discussion on Hospitality and Creative Arts Industries

Resolving Africa’s Massive youth unemployment: Are the Hospitality and Creative Arts sectors the missing links?

2. Panel Discussion on SMEs and start-ups funding

Financing Start-ups and SMEs: Is Cash still Available? What can FinTech, Telcos and financial Institutions do to address the Start-ups & SMEs funding crisis?

3. Panel Discussion on System Change and Prosperity for all

Can System change build prosperity for all?

4. Panel Discussion on Skills and Mind sets with the experts

Doing business in 2022 and beyond: How can SMEs and Start-ups navigate the skills & Mindset changes Ahead?

5. Panel Discussion on Agribusiness and sustainable Economic solution

How can Africa Capitalize on its Agribusiness sector as a sustainable human and economic solution?

in the coming days we shall be sharing the details with you, our cherished readers, and clients.

You can either download the full presentation or watch the video.

Be part of the movement to change the narrative of Africa’s Startups and SMEs by sharing this rich knowledge with any entrepreneur that you know on the continent.

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