pdf version.qxd - Africa Diaspora Investment Week

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CONTENTS 

2 Foreword 

3 Special Welcome Address 

5 Message from the United Nations Fund 

5 Survey On Diaspora Remittances- Investments 

7 Introductory Note 

9 Overview Of Workshops - Africa Diaspora 

Investments Forum 2005 

10 Press launch 

12 Press Communique 

17 Reconstruction and Development 

- the Role of Donors, Private Sector 

21 Exploring the Role of Telecommunications/ICT 

and Transport in Bridging the Gap 

25 Private Investment in Africa 

27 Exploring Tourism, Arts and Culture 

29 Africa V ukani- Investments 

Management Services 

34 Nigeria Stock Exchange 

37 Nigeria Stock Exchange Dinner/Cocktail 

52 Biographies 

66 Acknowledgement 

79 Questionnaire

6 

FOREWORD 

About this time last year, I had the pleasure of welcoming attendees to the first edition of the African Diaspora 

Investment Forum here in London. Today we are gathered for the second edition of the Forum and I want to welcome 

you with great enthusiasm. In barely two years Africa Diaspora Investment Forum is fast establishing itself as a 

premium event in the calendar of all who have strategic interest in economic development across the continent. 

Partnership is a cornerstone of the strategy of Africa Diaspora Investment Forum. The event seeks to strengthen 

existing partnerships and establish new working relationships. In this regard, corporate bodies such as Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, Africa Business Roundtable and NEPAD Business Group, who participated in the first edition in 2004, are 

coming on board in 2005 as partners. In addition to this, numerous credible public and private bodies are also 

sponsoring or supporting the event, thereby taking advantage of the investment opportunities that abound in engaging 

directly with the Africa Diaspora Investors. I believe that partnering with or supporting the Africa Diaspora Investor is 

of mutual benefit for all stakeholders with Africa as the key winner. 

The Africa Diaspora Investors are fast realizing that there is a business case to be made in investing in their countries 

of origin and in the continent as a whole. The wider community, both in government circles and in the broad investor 

communities are also increasingly recognizing the Africa Diaspora as a growing force for the economic transformation 

of Africa. By way of example, a recent study on remittance flow concluded that remittances from the African Diaspora 

to their home countries sometimes surpass revenue from natural resources. 

There is acute lack of objective information about investment opportunities in Africa and this has being a vexing 

impediment for a long time. Africa Diaspora Investment Forum seeks to dismantle this obstacle on the one hand but 

also increase the investment capacity of the African Diaspora on the other hand. 

It is no coincidence that the participants and speakers represent a wide spectrum of investment areas. The idea is to 

ensure that no matter your present investment activity or your projected diversification plan, there would be room to 

interact during the week long investment Forum. 

I am sure that the various interventions would provide you with the impetus to make the needed investment 

decisions 

for Africa. 

Dr. Bamanga Tukur, CON 

President, Africa Business Roundtable / Chairman, NEPAD Business Group 

Africa Diaspora Investment Forum

SPECIAL WELCOME ADDRESS 

On behalf of my distinguished team, and myself I bring you warm greetings from Nigeria. 

For the second time in a roll, I have the utmost pleasure to welcome you all to Africa Diaspora Investment Forum. 

Increasingly we in Africa are beginning to realize the key role Africans in the Diaspora play in the economic growth of 

the continent. Indeed being an ex Diaspora who has taken the leap to make my impact back at home I do understand 

that there are many African who do not necessarily want to return back to Africa but will still like to engage with Africa 

from an investment point of view. 

Africa consists of fifty-two countries each with a different landscape for investors. However one common thread runs 

across all countries that of improving investment climate The returns on investment in Africa is arguably the highest 

in the world. There might be an issue or two about. certainty and consistency but that is being addressed using 

international standards. I have traveled across the globe talking to investors and the African Diaspora about the 

ongoing changes in Africa this has met great enthusiasm. 

The stock market in Africa has seen tremendous growth in the last few years boasting returns higher than the 

developed world. As Africa embraces shareholdership while retaining the positive attributes of family owned business, 

we are seeing increasing levels of accountability and transparency. 

As key stakeholders of Africa’s growth it is our aim that all obstacles and challenges to Diaspora investments are 

addressed and that key information that will enable you to become informed investors is provided. It is on that basis 

we are happy to welcome you to the second annual Africa Diaspora Investors forum 

W e are looking forward to welcoming many of you as investors and key stakeholders in Africa’s economic growth 

Dr (Mrs) Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke 

Director-General of The Nigerian Stock Exchange 


8 

MESSAGE FROM THE 

UNITED NATIONS FUND 

Message to Africa Diaspora Investment Forum 

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, all too often the international community has put an emphasis on aid for 

Africa with limited focus on investments. While most international organizations have adopted a renewed spotlight on 

assisting Africa in this area, the best news is that people now are thinking of investing in Africa. Currently, only $15 

billion out of 

a total of 572.8 billion of the world s Foreign Direct Investment goes to Africa. This is a mere 2.6%. 

W e are thrilled to see that the Africa Diaspora Forum is aiming to attract new capital to the continent. The Diaspora 

community remains a key leadership component for Africa. The United Nations believe there is much benefit in using 

the expertise and resources of ex patriots to strengthen native economies. The African Diaspora can be a source of 

much needed capital to revitalize the economies of the continent. 

In 2003 we launched the Africa Diaspora with the benefit of the expertise and experience of the industry entrepreneurs, 

the organization set up by the Indian Diaspora in Silicon Valley. 

W e would like to thank the organizers, especially the African Business Roundtable, NEPAD, Nigeria Stock Exchange, 

BenTV and AfricaRecruit for their leadership in focusing on this important issue and wish them much success. I look 

forward to following the outcome. Here at the United Nations we have just concluded the historic 2005 World Summit 

which brought together leaders form 191 countries and I am pleased to report that amongst the various declarations 

one strong theme was Africa. 

Thank you. 

Mr. Amir A. Dossal, Executive Director 

United Nations Fund for International Partnerships 


S U R VEY ON DIASPORA 

R E M I T TANCES - INVESTMENT 

It is estimated that the annual investment into Africa by the Diaspora can be as much as US$ 450 million and this figure 

excludes the estimated US$ 12 billion remittances sent by the Diaspora annually. AfricaRecruit conducted a survey of on 

Diaspora remittances and investment as part of the preparation for the Africa Diaspora Investment 2005 that pointed to 

a potential investment flow of over 1.5billion US dollars annually into Africa by the Diaspora a massive increase of 20% 

f rom a similar study conducted last year. 

The survey of 769 Diaspora respondents revealed that over two thirds of the Diaspora remit money home for personal/family 

reasons with 32% of the respondents sending on average US$300 a month. 

27% of the 769 respondents indicated that they remit for investment purposes with approximately half of the remitters that 

send money home for personal/family reasons also indicating that they remit for investment purposes. Over 40% of the 

Diaspora investors indicated an annual investment of over US$ 3,600. This increase is a reflection of the incre a s i n g 

investment by the Diaspora 

Africa Diaspora Investment Forum 

9

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A reas of Diaspora investment range widely with setting up and running a business still a very popular however the stock 

market showing a 16% increase from last years survey which was 8% 

An overwhelming number of the respondents acknowledged that the development of telecommunications and ICT has 

made investment easier and cost effective. However over half of the respondents said that access to information was poor 

and was not sufficient for them to make an informed investment decision. 

“The African community in the Diaspora has a major role to play in the new 

task of transformation, re c o n s t ruction and regeneration. Their experience, 

values, knowledge and creativity are very much re q u i red to join with homebased 

eff o rts to ensure the overall improvement in the African condition. 

Rebuilding Africa is a collective challenge” 

H.E President Olusegun Obasanjo –Chairperson African Union 


INTRODUCTO RY NOTE 

Africa Diaspora Investor in the Global Marketplace 

As the new decade gets into its second half and as discussions on the most potent model for international development 

progresses, there appear to be a shift in paradigm. This shift emphasises trade and de-emphasises aid. This is 

noticeable both in the private and the public sector. 

The private sector - permit me for the purpose of this note to call it the investor sector - are fast realising their role in 

building and strengthening their communities. The rationale of the investors for such engagement may in part be 

justifiably social, but there is a strong business case to make here. 

The public sector on their part, in emerging markets, especially in Africa, is fast waking up to the realisation that the 

alternative to an investor friendly environment is socio-economic disintegration and anarchy. Most governments have 

therefore stopped talking and have started putting effective policies in place to attract a wide spectrum of investors. 

W e are aware that a particular segment of the investor community are listening, watching and waiting to harness the 

enormous investment opportunities out there. This is the Africa Diaspora Investors. We know that a sizable number of 

them have done very well in their investment areas in Europe and the Americas through hard work, creativity and 

camaraderie or networking. We know that the Africa Diaspora Investors want to look homeward to invest in new 

ventures or even transfer existing operations to Africa. Ironically we also happen to know that the Africa Diaspora 

Investors have many unanswered questions, the answers of which would be determinant of their investment decisions. 

As we know from economists, market behaviour is predicated on investor decisions. 

No one is to be left with any illusions as to whether the African Diaspora is making, as yet, noticeable inward direct 

investments in Africa. As a matter of fact, studies show that as investors in Africa are responsible for outward capital 

flow from Africa, the Diaspora are credited, in some cases with, major inward capital flow that surpass revenue from 

natural resources. The issue is that this is very much fragmented, prompting therefore a dire need for coherent set of 

pro-active and sustained actions in order to fully harness the huge opportunities out there. 

This is the springboard on which the Africa Diaspora Investment Forum rests. Born in 2004, the Africa Diaspora 

Investment Forum aims to create investment awareness and increase the investment capacity of the Africa Diaspora. 

Planned as a sustained set of actions, but also encouraged by the results of the Forum of 2004, the Africa Diaspora 

Investment Forum is in its second edition in 2005. 

An enabling context needs to be provided. On this basis, Africa Diaspora Investment Forum is working very closely 

with key institutions as follows: World Bank, UK Department for International Development, UNESCO, European 

Union Proinvest for Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific Nations, New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Africa 

Business Roundtable. 


12 

In terms of content, key investment areas have been identified and would be delved into in the course of the week long 

investment forum. Series of roundtables/workshops from Tuesday 13 September through Saturday 17 September will 

explore the following investment areas: Reconstruction and Development, Telecommunication/ICT and transport, 

Private investment in stock market, small-micro business/franchising, real estate, Tourism, arts and culture. 

The methodology employed in ensuring that the investment forum is even more successful than the first edition is 

tapping into the power of partnership. Corporate bodies, policy makers and Africa Diaspora investors and community 

bodies are actively involved in the forum as strategic partners, sponsors, speakers or supporters. The event is Pan- 

African and much work was put into seeing a fair representation without compromising quality and other objective 

factors. Each roundtable deals with a specific investment area. The idea is to showcase best practices of successful 

Africa Diaspora businesses, explore investment opportunities, discuss challenges and enhance networking. 

The role of the press in facilitating an enabling investment atmosphere must be highlighted at this point. An objective 

reporting is crucial. The press has the responsibility to report in a balanced manner. Philanthropy, certainly not in the 

press, is no longer fashionable. One question that readily comes to mind is why the press should report positively about 

Africa? There is certainly a business case to make about balanced reporting for Africa. The focus should therefore be 

how should the media report positively about Africa? These and other questions were precursor of the Forum via a 

highly successful press launch on 31 August 2005. 

As lead of the African Diaspora Investment Forum, I have had the privilege to consult widely to ’sell’ the message to 

wide spectrum of investors, from public to private, mainstream to Diaspora and all in between. One point is very clear, 

everyone agrees that this product is a saleable one. While some would prudently wait and come on board as from 

2006, others have signed up in different shapes and form. 

It is therefore fair to conclude that the era for the Africa Diaspora in uplifting African investment in the global 

marketplace has arrived. 

Collins NWEKE 

Consultant Africa Diaspora Investment 


OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOPS - 

AFRICA DIASPORA INVESTMENT 

FORUM 2005 

This year alone has seen an increase in pledges for grants and soft loans with a total value of about $34 billion to the 

continent of Africa - a much needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The workshops, aim to educate policy makers as 

well as encourage the active participation of the Diaspora. 

The method in use is mainly interactive with audience participation in an environment, where information and ideas are 

shared by the participants, with an audience mix of different stakeholders and experts in the industry from the Diaspora 

as well as Africa. 

n Stock Market 

The stock markets in Africa have surged upwards in recent years and have come into their own as an alternative 

method of acquiring proprietary rights in the development of the private sector. 

Strategies are being developed by these markets, to engage with, the Diaspora in order to increase market 

capitalisation. With a collective potential market share of at least $200 billion and still growing, most are currently 

experiencing the advantages of doing so, with an increase in the flow of funds. 

W orkshop Purpose: This workshop will therefore be seeking to explore the existing recommendations from policy 

makers as well as looking at alternative strategies such as engaging with the Diaspora. Long and short-term strategies 

will also be developed as part of the brain storming sessions involving delegates as well as experts in the industry. 

The outcomes will be used to assist decision-makers in their development of appropriate policies, which will aid 

investments in African capital markets 

n Venture Capital/Private Equity 

One of Africa’s main barriers to trade and investment is a lack of infrastructure. This inevitably leads to high investment 

costs, which makes the continent a less attractive destination for funds. 

According to the Commission for Africa Report, Africa needs an additional US$20 billion a year investment in 

infrastructure. Policy makers have long suggested that for there to be an increase in inward flows in there construction 

and development of infrastructure there needs to be strong input from the private sector. Traditionally financing for such 

projects has come from development loans granted by multilateral agencies such as the World Bank. 

As a continent in transition especially in the development of sectors such as telecommunication, transportation 

and technology, venture capital funding will offer an attractive rate of return. Risk capital inflows into Africa will act 

as an alternative to bank loans and also bridge the gap between government spending and development assistance. 

W orkshop purpose: This workshop will explore the perceptions of risks seen by venture capitalists, a major barrier 

to investment; Is this risk a myth; Are there any success stories in Africa; How can Africa tap into a global fund in 

excess of $1.8 trillion in order to finance development projects. There would also be discussions on the reasons for 

the under development of venture capital as a type of finance in Africa. Some of the factors to be considered 

are leadership qualities, economies of scale, evaluation of risk for monitoring purposes, and regulatory environment. 


14 

n SME /Franchising 

One of the recommendations in the ’Commission for Africa Report’ in having a sustainable growth programme was to 

"unleash the strong entrepreneurial spirit of African people". One of the practical ways of implementing this 

recommendation, it is argued, is through the development of the SME sector by creating an enabling environment for 

them to thrive. One of the main issues facing this sector today is a lack of funds. The advent of franchising as an option 

has seen the survival rate of these kind of businesses increased and in fact expanding. 

W orkshop Purpose: Participants will engage with experts from the industry and policy makers on policies which work; 

Success stories on existing businesses will be heard as well as best practices shared; Franchising as an alternative 

source of funding will be explored; How can the Diaspora bridge the gap as a source of finance; The outcomes of this 

workshop will be used to inform policy makers and other stakeholders who provided credit to SME’s on one level or 

another. 

n Real Estate 

Investment in real estate is one of the most common routes of remittances from the Diaspora and will continue to be 

so. Whilst there has been a sustained flow from the Diaspora, there needs to be a new way of thinking if these inflows 

are to be maintained. Accountability and quick transfer of ownership are examples of some of the challenges facing 

the sector from foreign investors. 

W orkshop Purpose: Issues such as land registration and other proprietary matters will be addressed; Delegates should 

expect to be informed of practical ways of financing these investments in Africa; Options such as mortgages will also 

be looked at. 

n Expected Outputs 

The workshops were planned in a fashion to enable the following outputs: 

A clear understanding of the main obstacles to investment 

Solutions and recommendations on how to overcome the barriers 

How to share best practices in a flexible manner 

Policies that can be easily implemented 

Active participation of the Diaspora 

A wareness of the various investment opportunities and matching investors with investments 

Conclusion 

This forum which is in its second year has brought about changes in the investment climate of Africa, and has provided 


a platform for the sharing of information on opportunities, of interest to the Diaspora. Objectives on the way forward 

have been identified in key business areas, by policy-makers and government officials and some of these policies are 

currently being implemented. 

For more information about the workshops that was held in the previous event, please go to our website 

w w w.africadiaspora.com or contact me on :modupeakidele@africadiaspora.com. 

Modupe Akidele 

Africa Diaspora Investments 

The African Diaspora, the continent’s sixth region, with its abundance of 

skills and resources is too important to be ignored in Africa’s 

Renaissance. Its tremendous potential must be harnessed to fast track the 

continent’s Development 


President, Africa Business Roundtable / Chairman, NEPAD Business Group 


16 

PRESS LAUNCH 

Roundtable 31st August 2005 

Background 

The African Diaspora are a brand-building opportunity, key to building and projecting a new African brand a potential 

massive resource of funds. In some cases Africans living abroad send more money home than earned from many of 

the natural resources or exports from Africa. Africa is a changing continent. It needs to trumpet its successes, building 

brand communication around the many good things now happening on the continent. Africa Economic Summit 2005 

10.00-10.30 Registration and early morning refreshments 

AfricaRecruit 

10.30 - 10.35 Opening Remarks 

Janet Narh, GFM Radio 

10.35 - 10.45 Keynote Address 

W illiam Day, UNDP Adviser 

10.45 - 11.15 Enabling Investment in Africa: The Role of the Press 

Barfor Nkomah, New African Magazine 

Olayinka Fayomi, Fin Magazine 

11.15-11.45 The Role of the Media in the Development of Africa 

Paddy Coulter,Reuters Foundation 

Sally-Ann Wilson, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association 

11.45-12.30 Question and answer 

12.30-1.30 Lunch 

1.30 - 2.00 The Neglected Stories of Africa: Whose Role is it to pick up? 

Femi Okutubo, Trumpet Newspaper 

Alistair Soyode, Ben TV 

2.00-2.30 Question and answer 

2.30 -2.45 

Close 


PRESS COMMUNIQUE 

Over 60 delegates consisting of media organisation from the Diaspora, international institutions and media practioners 

gathered at Chatham House Royal Institute of International Affairs to discuss the role of the press in facilitating 

investment by the Diaspora. The event also represented a press launch of the forthcoming Africa Diaspora Investment 

Forum (ADIF) 2005, being jointly organised by, New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Economic, Africa Business 

Roundtable, Nigerian Stock Exchange, BenTV and AfricaRecruit. 

The role of the press in facilitating an enabling investment atmosphere is overwhelming. An objective reporting is 

crucial. The press has the responsibility to report in a balanced manner. Philanthropy, certainly not in the press, is no 

longer fashionable. One question that readily comes to mind is why the press should report positively about Africa? 

There is a certainly a business case to make about balanced reporting for Africa. The focus should therefore be how 

should the media report positively about Africa? The press launch of today, as well as the actual week long investment 

forum provides excellent platform to confront diverse stakeholders on how they would like to be portrayed in the press. 

Topics discussed centred on: whose roles it is to brand Africa as a whole, Is there a business case for marketing Africa, 

the capacity of African media to provide local content without total reliance on international/western medium’s. The 

function of the media as the 4th realm of government in dictating the agenda in relations to national interest as well as 

using historical contexts in projecting Africa was highlighted. The responsibility of Africa governments, business and 

Africans themselves particularly those in the Diaspora were explored in depth. 

Some of the comments from the floor included research into what the public want to know about Africa, rigid 

structures/bureaucracy in the international media does not enhance flexibility and therefore does not encourage a 

balance reporting on Africa. 

There was an overall consensus on the need for the Diaspora Press to collaborate as effective stakeholders to access 

limited funds, lobby for change and engage with mainstream media. 

Some of the recommendations: 

n There needs to be synergy between African government especially in formulating policies relating to investments 

and a strong co-operation with the Diplomatic services and Africans in the Diaspora. 

n A consultative forum should be created with emphasis on African media 

n The Diaspora media should form an consortium to act as an effective stakeholder 

n The metro concept should be replicated but with an African content 

n Steps should be taken to get wealthy Africans to actively invest in Africa media, this ideas must be branded 

and sold to them as a long term investment strategy and not as an instant money making scheme 

n The quality of the Africa media in the Diaspora needs to be improved and brought to the same level as the world 

media in order to actively compete in the industry. 

n To pool information similar to that of A P creating a Diaspora news feed 


18 

African Standard South Africa s Diaspora Newspaper 

The African Standard newspaper is a response to the rapidly growing West African diaspora in South Africa, as well 

as to the increasing business interconnectedness between the West and Southern regions. 

The project, the first of its kind in the region, and probably the continent, is the brainchild of Eniola Fadayomi, Chairman 

of Nigeria s Millennium Publishers which produces the Nigerian weekly newspaper, Financial Standard. 

She says the idea for the publication resulted from her many visits to South Africa. I could see South Africans had 

limited knowledge of what was happening in other parts of Africa. And yet, at the same time, there were moves towards 

greater integration of South Africa into the rest of Africa through various political initiatives. 

With the information revolution, the world is becoming a much smaller place and what we have to consider, in terms 

of this, is that it is not longer a question of an Africa-Europe axis. It is a question of what we can do within Africa, 

between countries. 

There is still considerable mistrust and competitiveness between African nationals, a situation that has made life 

difficult for many African expatriates living there, particularly those in low income jobs or unemployed, who claim 

marginalisation and discrimination by South Africans. As a result they have kept to themselves and are not mentioned 

at all in local newspapers except where members of their societies may end up on the wrong side of the law. However, 

professional West Africans are increasingly making themselves felt in the mainstream media in terms of a focus on 

their businesses or areas of expertise. 

The African Standard was designed to bring news from West Africa to the diaspora in South Africa and to reflect 

developments in their own communities. It has become popular with many Africans from other parts of the continent 

who have welcomed its recognition of the diaspora communities in their adopted country and as a vehicle for positive 

news about themselves and their countrymen. 

News covered in the publication includes community activities, interviews with nationals of various countries, profiles 

on successful Africans, investments by South Africans in West Africa and vice versa, events involving the diaspora as 

well as business and political news from West Africa. It also provides a window on African communities in their country 

for South Africans themselves. 


There are an estimated 100,000 Nigerians alone believed to be living and working in South Africa. The exact numbers 

of the community at large from African countries outside South Africa is not able to be determined in any reliable way 

as many people arrive on tourist visas and stay on, or have limited contact with their diplomatic missions. But it seems 

that nationals from many countries have their own associations, restaurants and linkages from Eritrea and Kenya 

through to Senegal, Cote d Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Launched in April 2004, the monthly tabloid newspaper went fortnightly in May 2005 to cater for growing demand in 

South Africa. There is also increasing demand for the publication in West Africa, primarily Nigeria, and distribution in 

the region is slowly increasing. 


RECONSTRUCTION AND 

DEVELOPMENT - The Role of 

Donors, Private Sector, African 

Governments and Diaspora 

Tuesday 13th September 2005 10am -6pm 

Background 

It is estimated that there are over 10million Africans in the Diaspora who can act as advocates for international policies 

favourable to Africa. More importantly they can facilitate the 8th Millennium Development Goal (MDG), thereby 

facilitating the development of a global partnership for development. 

Global partnership between developing and developed countries should be enhanced in order to address 

reconstruction and development. Strategies focusing on poverty alleviation should be long term and therefore focused 

on sustainable development and economic growth. It would be critical to promote coherence in the international 

development policy, promote reform of international institutions, encourage the implementation process of debt relief 

and promote access to markets 

- Excerpt from Policy Papers of the South Africa Department of Foreign Affairs 

Moderator for the Day: Chukwu Emeka Chikezie, African Foundation for Development (AFFORD) 


10.30 - 10.35 

Opening Remarks and Introduction 

10.35-11.35 n Mr Babs Adenaike, Coordinator Business Development Services EU-ACP ProInvest 

Belgium-: 

Building Partnership in Investment Promotion and Technology transfer in Key 

Sector Enterprise 

n Mr Dokun Kolawole, CEO Oak Ventures USA-: Project Conception and Development 

n Mr Patrick S. Frederick, CEO Aimex International -SME’s Development in Africa 

n Jawahir Adam, Humanitarian Adviser Somalia Diaspora- Diaspora and Investment 

in Human Capital - The Case of Somaliland 

11.45 - 1.00 n Mr Klaas Molenaar, Director Internationalising Entrepreneurship (IntEnt) Holland Diaspora 

Enterprise Development: from Conception to Implementation and in between 

1.00-2.00 

Continue on page 18 

n Dr Roman Grynberg, Head of International Trade and Regional Cooperation, 

Commonwealth 

Secretariat - Insight into the Managed Migration Project 

n Department for International Development United Kingdom 

n Mr Kwabena Antwi, Non Residents Ghanaian Secretariat Ghana Investment Promotion 

Centre- Enabling Investment by the Diaspora - The Case of Ghana 

Lunch 

> 

> 


2

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2.00-3.30 n Georgina Akibo-Betts, The role of the Diaspora in Reconstruction and Development: 

The Case of Sierra Leone War Trust for Children 

3.30-4pm 

4.00-5.00 


n Dr Kofi Anani, Operations Officer World Bank Institute World Bank and the African 

Diaspora 

Investor: Partners in Economic Reconstruction 

n Mr Andy Sundberg, Consultex SA - The Concept of Africa Diaspora Cooperative Bank 

n Meera Sethi, International Organisation for Migration- Role of Diaspora in Achieving the 

Tea and Coffee 

Moderated Open Forum - Mr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem Director Justice Africa 

Statement by Mr Thomas Kunbi 

"The call to our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora is clear and 

simple .Join us in the reconstruction of the continent. Make your 

expertise available wherever you are." 

Professor Wiseman l Nkuhlu (NEPAD steering committee)

SUCCESS STO RY 

Andrew Rugasira 

Andrew Rugasira, a Ugandan entrepreneur, founded Rwenzori Coffee Company in 2002. Rwenzori and its network of 

coffee growers throughout the country have created a range of quality Arabica coffees to compete in the world market. 

Rwenzori Coffee Company recognises growers, employees, shareholders and the environment as primary 

stakeholders. Together they represent the quadruple bottom line. Rwenzori Coffee Company passionately believe that 

Trade Not Aid is the only strategy for African economic and social development. Aid stifles creativity and results in 

crippling dependency. Trade provides opportunities for wealth creation and economic empowerment. It unleashes the 

potential of partnerships between growers and consumers. It generates employment and builds stakeholder 

communities. Our community programmes focus on two areas: the growers, and their community. Rwenzori Coffee 

Company support farmers to form producer organisations, giving them technology such as coffee pulpers, washing 

baskets and drying trays it also provide training in best practices to improve the quality of their crop. In the communities 

it promotes social well being through the support of orphanages, healthcare and education projects. The bulk of its 

Arabica coffee come from the Rwenzori Mountain area in Uganda. The farmers, over 10,000 of them are driven, smart 

and interested in generating economic opportunities and creating wealth by trading their coffee. Rwenzori Coffee 

Company doesn t just pay them a premium price, they haggle and fight for it, they deserve it and what s more, it makes 

economic sense to pay it. 

Andrew Rugasira was trained in law and economics at SOAS, London. He had his al levels and graduate education 

in the UK but decided to return home. He began first as an academic researcher at the prestigious Centre for Basic 

Research (CBR) founded by the famous Asian -Ugandan renowned academic Prof Mahmood Mamdani, who is now at 

C o l u m b i a . 

A family tragedy in terms of early death of Andrew s father, Mr Rugasira forced Andrew, an only son in his mid 30s to 

become head of his family and family business that had been run by his late dad and his mum. Most Ugandans who 

went to school in the 70s in Uganda must have been taught with Mr Rugasira s chalk writing on their black boards! 

On taking over Rugasira diversified into property, events management, property development, commodities, 

promotions and has never looked back. 

He is of a younger, dynamic and no boundary limited African entrepreneurs determined to take advantage of local and 

global opportunities for wealth creation. 


RECONSTRUCTION EXPLORING THE ROLE ANDOF 

DEVELOPMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS/ICT 

- The Role of 

Donors, AND TRANSPORT Private Sector, IN BRIDGING African 

Goverments INVESTMENTand GAPS 

Diaspora 

W ednesday 14th September 2005 10am - 4pm 

Background 

Providing effective infrastructure to facilitate and enable trade and investment within Africa as well as with the rest of 

the world has resulted in new markets and investment into Africa in the last few years. Transportation and 

ICT/Telecomm industry has seen an increased growth, providing jobs as well as investment into the continent 

estimated at billions 

of dollars. 

- Excerpt from Policy Papers of the South Africa Department of Foreign Affairs 


10.30 - 10.35 Opening Remarks and Introduction 

10.35-12.30 n Mr Gary Munroe, MD Active Intel-: ICT in Africa 

12.30- 1.30pm Lunch 

n Mr Simon Harford, CEO Virgin Nigeria Airways: Investment Environment in Africa: 

The Case of Virgin Nigeria Airways 

n Kenya Club: The Role of ICT in Connecting the Diaspora 

n Mr Gordon Torr European Representative, Roundabout Outdoor, South Africa: 

Phone Card Linking the Diaspora 

1.30- 3.00pm n Mr Ladi Okuneye, Chief Marketing Officer Suburban- Telecommunication as an Instrument 

of Change in Bringing a Different Perspective to Commerce in Africa - Myth or Fiction 

-The Suburban experience 

n Mr Abayomi Ojetunde, CEO-Ark View Airlines- Transport Enabling Investment in Central Africa 

n Mr George Swatole, Bailey Chairman AfriTel- Telecomm/ICT bridging the gap for investment 

n Mr Taroon Japal, Regional Director East/Mid Africa Oracle: ICT an Enabling Tool 

for E-commerce 

n Mr Alex Amosu, CEO Ringtones- Mobile phone and ringing tones in Africa 

3.00- 4pm Open interactive session and conclusions 

Close 


26 


A Dream come True by Joseph Walker 

I am a 42-year old man who hails from Ghana, West Africa married with 5 children all resident in Italy. I migrated to 

Italy in 1988 under very compelling reasons. This came about as a result of very difficult economic and political 

conditions in Ghana at that time. My first point of call in Italy was Naples where I worked as a farm-hand in a tomato 

field for a year. In 1990, thanks to the Legge Martelli I was able to regularize my stay. I subsequently left for Reggio 

Emilia in the northern part of Italy. 

I started working in a chicken abattoir in Reggio Emilia as factory hand for 6 years. Due to my insatiable desire to 

defend labour rights, I was elected into the factory s Council of the Trade Union. My satisfactory performance as a 

unionist caught the attention of the Labour Office (CGIL) and in 1996, I was seconded as Officer-In-Charge for 

Immigrant Affairs till date. 

As many an African and a Ghanaian for that matter, my empathy has always led me into assisting fellow humans, more 

especially my extended family members back home. Due to this quality in me, I have always kept in touch with events 

in Ghana to the extent that I send back home remittances, both in kind and cash. My intention of coming back home 

in future has motivated me in putting up a house in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. It has always been my desire to 

set up an enterprise where job opportunities will be offered to less privileged youth. 

In August 2003, I received a phone call from the Mida headquarters in Rome inviting me to participate in a round table 

conference in Modena. At the meeting the aim and objectives of the MIDA was made known and I really had a feeling 

this was a God sent opportunity which many Africans have been yearning for (i.e. the possibility of being assisted to 

create viable projects back home). 

I was selected among numerous applicants as a beneficiary for the MIDA assistance. I have already taken a trip to 

Ghana this year to finalize arrangements with MIDA, Ghana for disbursement of funds for the commencement of the 

project. Let me at this stage acknowledge the immense assistance Mr. Polosa and his team has offered back home in 

Ghana so far. 

An arable land of 200 acres has already been acquired from the Chief and elders of a village called Simbrofo in the 

Central region, Ghana. All customary and traditional rites as well as land papers were processed before 

c o m m e n c e m e n t 

of cultivation. 

An initial 50 out of the total 200 acres has been year-marked for maize and cassava cultivation for the first crop farming 

season. I must say the cultivation has started in earnest and this has been done within the best modern agriculture 

practice possible. With the exception of the Project Coordinator (Philip Archer), whom I have formed partnership with, 

all employees numbering 15 on the farm are indigenes of the village. These employees will continue to be engaged for 

as long as the farm project exists. This by far has created job opportunities for these indigenes, and I must say they 


are so enthused about this and even wants to do more. Taken into consideration that the village population is about 

380, when we cultivate fully we will be in the position to employ about a quarter of the population. 

The concerns and Interest showed by the Chief and Elders of the Village has been very phenomenal. The young, 

dynamic and energetic Chief of Simbrofo, who himself, has traveled and lived in most countries in Europe (France, 

Germany, Italy, Switzerland etc) was so enthusiastic about the interest my group showed in acquiring a plot of land 

for farming in his village. They exhibited this initiative with pomp and pageantry before the commencement of the farm 

project and I am proud to say the Chief and his elders have pledged their full support for the success of the farm 

project. 

W e envisage the project to be a long term one and therefore have some future plans: 

n The remaining 150 acres will be cultivated within the next 2 farming seasons. This will invariably necessitate 

an increase in inputs (labour, machinery, chemicals etc) 

n The proceeds that will be realized from the first 50 acres will be ploughed back in the our expansion work 

n W e will embark on further training of the farm management to meet the challenges that may confront us 

n An attempt will be made to cultivate all year round and hence resort to irrigation. This, no doubt, is a 

capital intensive venture but we believe we can surmount this hurdle when all stake holders in this project assist 

Since Attaining independence many African countries as well as the World Bank have tried in various ways in 

developing the continent but unfortunately all have proved futile due to reason best known to everyone here. The 

United states as the worlds leader in food aid provides more than $1.4 billion in emergency food aid to African 

countries. I believe that food aid without finding ways of raising food production in African will never be in the interest 

of African countries. The Heavily Indented Poor Countries initiative (HIPC) has to date provided $ 31 billion in debt 

reduction to 27 countries pursuing economic reforms, 23 of them in Africa, all these measures has also not helped 

African countries 

I believe that the assistance offered by MIDA, if sustained will go a long way in helping Ghana to turn around. This 

facility will further enhance the creation of jobs to the growing unemployed and boost up food production for 

consumption and as raw materials for industries. 

It will also fit perfectly well into the Government of Ghana s policy of Golden Age of Business with its attendant positive 

acknowledgement by the government of MIDA s great assistance. The political implication of MIDA s funding of these 

projects can not be overemphasized. 

I am most grateful to MIDA-Italy for the opportunity offered, through which they will represent a new viable approach 

to involve immigrants as development partners for African countries in becoming a turning point to Africa s growth. I 

believe that for the continent to develop Africans must be protagonist and this exactly the spirit of MIDA 


28 

Conclusion 

In conclusion I will say under the current democratic dispensation in Ghana and the vision to become a middle incomelevel 

nation by the year 2010, MIDA-Italy s assistance will go a long way in helping achieve this goal. For this reason 

MIDA ITALY must be encouraged to help become an agent for growth in Africa. MIDA-Italy can be the live wire to 

Ghana s industrial growth and therefore must be sustained. 

"Investment Capital is a coward; it shies away from areas of conflicts. 

Africa must therefore pursue peace and good governance to reduce 

capital flight and attract new investments to create wealth." 

Tukur, CON 

President, Africa Business Roundtable/Chairman, NEPAD Business Group 


PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN 

Thursday 15th September 2005 

Background 

Our research shows us that Africans want to increase investment in Africa. While African governments have put in 

place various policies to facilitate investment by large multinationals, little has been done to enable the inflow of 

investment from private individuals. We are keen that Africans in the Diaspora are recognised as key players and key 

investors in Africa Africa Diaspora Investment 2005of dollars. 

Moderators for the Day: Moderator for the Day: Chris Nash, Cameroon Forum 

Mrs Fayomi, Foreign Investment Network (FIN) 


10.40 - 12.25 Opening Remarks 

HE Christopher Kolade Nigeria High Commissioner 

Dr. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, Director General and CEO Nigerian Stock Exchange 

12.30- 1.30pm Lunch 

n Modise Motloba CEO Africa Vukani: South African Investment Environment - Focus on 

the Financial Services Charter and its Implications on Black Economic Empowerment 

in South Africa and What that Means for the Continent 

n Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc- Seeds of National Economic Transformation 

n Databank Ghana 

n Xavier Lecacheur, Financial Sector: Department For International Development 

n Ken Ife, Africa Caribbean Business - Diaspora investment 

1.30- 3.00pm n Joyce Dimakatso Mpofu, Chairperson South Africa Association Of Investors South 

Africa Association of Investors- The Need to have an Africa Wide Investment Association 

n Femi Edun- Director Frontiers Capital Nigeria - Success Stories of SME’s in Africa 

n Edward Kirathe Director of Alliance Capital Partners- Real Estate Investment in East Africa 

n Chris West Deputy Director-Shell Foundation - Supporting the SME Sector in Africa 

n Emelia Bartels- Ghana Prestigious Award: Harnessing the Power of Diaspora for 

Investment: Case study GPA Award 

3.00- 3.40pm Question and answer 

Close 


2



Donors, EXPLORING Private TOURISM, Sector, African 

Goverments Governments A RTS AND CULTURE 

and Diaspora 

Friday 16th September 2005 10am -6pm 


10.30 - 10.35 Opening Remarks and Introduction 

10.35-11.35 n Edmond Moukala, Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue UNESCO 

The Slave Route Cultural Tourism Programme 

12.30-1.30 

Case Presentations 

n Clement Mwatsama, Consultant on Tourism Policy and Practice/kenya International 

Network for Development 

n Slok Air International Consolidating the Gains of the Early Years 

n Ebrahim Sanyang, President & CEO InvestGambia 

Tourism and its Implication for the African Tourism Industry 

Lunch 

1.30 - 2.10 n E wa jo- Promoting African Tourism in the West 

2.20- 3.00 

n Cross River Tourism Board 

n Ngenda Kigaraba - Is tourism an Option for the Diaspora? 

Clips from Nigerian Films and interactive Session on the Place of the Nigerian Film in the 

Development of the African Film Industry 

W ith speeches from: 

n Fidelis Duker- Director, Abuja International Film Festival 

n Joke Jacobs - CEO, Lufood Productions 

n Charles Igwe- CEO, Big Picture 

Response by expert panelist: 

n Bolloywood Expert 

n Mick Czaky- UK film Producer and Director of films for Television/cinema and 

DVD (Africa Live) 

n Film Academic 

n Keith Shiri - Director Africa at the Pictures 

n A vid watcher of Nigerian movies 

Moderation by Jim Baker, Connections for Development 

3.00-3.40 Question and Answer Session 

Close 


3

32 


About Christopher Chunya Munga and his African Business Venture 

After six years working for companies in the UK, I decided to work as an Independent Consultant in Software 

Development in 1996, sub-contracting my skills and services. My sub-contracting firm (M-Team Computers Ltd) was 

opened in March 1996 with the view to provide software development consulting services across Europe and America. 

In 1995, I visited Cameroon and decided to put together a move back to Africa plan. In 1996, I predicted that African 

businesses will require my skills and services by 2000 in the field of database management system software 

applications. In the first half of 1998, I decided to commence my move back to Africa by developing 7 different 

software applications single handedly. I could not find an investor to sponsor the software development phase of the 

project, so I had to sponsor the entire development myself. 

Late 1999, I decided to research into Africa, to able to ascertain which African Country was ready for the products that 

I developed. I researched into Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Kenya. I then decided to start with Ghana 

as the Gateway for my African Software Venture. 

I visited Ghana from early 2000, at least twice a year (all my personal investment). In the year 2002, I won my first 

contract to implement my first product in Africa with a clinic in Accra, Ghana. This contract was a 94,000 USD contract 

to implement my Health Care Software Application. As a result of this contract, I decided to move or relocated to 

Ghana on the 4th of February 2003 ( for good ). A custom software development company was then set-up in the early 

2000 with a Ghanaian partner. 

Today, we have at least 9 core products being marketed across Africa. Most of our clients are in Ghana, but we now 

have clients in Nigeria, Cameroon and pushing very hard to have new clients in Togo, Ivory Coast, and even South 

Africa. 

Ironically, from Ghana, we have started doing off-shore software development contracts for companies in the USA and 

Europe. We just finished an off-shore contract with GEC USA with our sister company in Ghana ( Rancard Solutions). 

Our company is called Pro Resolve Software Ghana Ltd and we now have 19 staffs with at least 100 clients scattered 

across Ghana and Africa. 

Our mission is to become the leading software house in the West Coast of Africa and provide software application 

solutions to business to allow them to be profitable. Employee productive at work is at the heart of every software 

solution that we implement. We have realized that for African Businesses to be internationally competitive, then they 

must recognized international quality standard and employee productive must be improved and managed efficiently. 

My advice to any African in the western world who is considering moving back home, is to have a good plan and to be 

focus and brave. It is not easy doing business in Africa, but it is worth it. As a result of my effort in the late nineties, I 

have now employed 19 staffs and basically have changed the lives of 19 young Africans in Ghana. Our company 


operates as a pan-African company and has staff from Liberia, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon. 

The main difficult that I faced was to find an investor to invest at the early stages of the product development. I had 

to sponsor the entire development process. This was close to 500,000 pounds sterling including Labour (software 

development time), Material (software development tools). Each software product cost me approximately 100,000 

G B P 

to develop. (Labour Cost) 

Before my final move to Ghana, I was on a sub-contract assignment in London earning 50 pounds per hour i.e 400 

pounds per day. I had to strongly believe in the African business venture to have stopped my 8000 pounds per month 

sub-contracting position in London. 

Contact details 

Pro Resolve Software (Ghana) Ltd 

Box CT 4596 Cantonments 

No. 47 3rd Crescent 

Asylum Down 

Accra, Ghana 

T 00233 244 784 601 ( mobile) 

T 00233 21 238 508 (office phone) 

T 00233 21 238 594 (office fax) 

w w w.answeb.co.uk 

Together, we can do it better - partnership is Key 


President, Africa Business Roundtable/Chairman, NEPAD Business Group 


34 

11.00-12.30 | Workshops Speakers 

Stock Market 

Venture Capital/ 

Private Equity 

SME-Franchising 

Real Estate 

Tourism 

12.30-14.00 

14.00- 15.20 


n Nigeria Stock Exchange 

n Legalities South Africa 

n A yo Salami- African Business Research Institute 

n Dr Eric Soubeiga -Operations Research Practice for Africa 

Facilitator: Alache Ode 

n W agane Diof -Africap 

n Henry Obi-Aureous 

n Hakim Khelifa-AfricInvest 

Facilitator: Barbara James African Venture Capital Association 

n Taroon Japal- Regional Director - Oracle East/Mid Africa 

n Mr Femi Edun Director- Frontier Capital 

n Patrick S. Frederick CEO Aimex International 

n Dr E Argo- President GLAD 

n Abah Ofon 

n Mr. Kwabena Antwi - Head of the Non - Resident Ghanaian Secretariat Ghana 

Investment Promotion Centre 

Facilitator: Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie 

n South Africa Association of Investors 

n Nigeria 

n Edward Kirathe Alliance Capital Partners East Africa 

n Mark Ankrah -Pinnacle Housing Foundation 

Facilitator: Cameroon Forum 

n Cross River Tourism 

n Ethiopian Airlines 

n UNESCO 

n Slok Airlines 

Facilitator: Peter Turay 

Feed back from the Workshops by Facilitators 

15.20 - 16.30 Presentation from: 

Africa Business Roundtable



Donors, NIGERIAN Private STOCK Sector, EXCHANGE African 

Goverments COCKTAIL/DINNER and Diaspora 

The Nigerian Stock Exchange Cocktail/Dinner 

17 September 2005 7pm - 12midnight 

Host of the Day Dr (Mrs.) Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director-General of The Nigerian Stock Exchange in partnership 

with Dr Femi Olojugba, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe 

Friday 16 September 2005 

Place Imperial College, 58 Prince’s Gate, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2PG 

Honour List Chairman Economic & Financial Crime Commission, Femi Otedola, President & CEO Zenon Petroleum 

& Gas Ltd, A team of 40 Stock Brokers, Delegates of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria plc, Africa Diaspora 

Investors, South African Association of Investors, Nigeria High Commissioner Dr Christopher Kolade, (tbc) Oak 

Venture Capital USA, Frontier Capital, Cross River State Tourism, Virgin Nigeria Airways, World Bank, BGL, IntEnt 

Holland Enterprise Development Initiative and Suburban Telecomms; and a host of other corporate bodies and 

various Diaspora Community Organisations. 

7:00pm Cocktails 

7:00pm Remarks and Introductions by the Master of Ceremony 

Mr Christian Udechukwu, MD BusinessinAfrica UK 

7:40pm Statement from NIDOE 

Dr Femi Olojugba, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe Keynote Address 

7:50pm 

8.00pm 

9.00pm 

9.20pm 

9.40pm 

Continue on page 38 

Special Welcome Address 

Dr (Mrs.) Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director-General of The Nigerian Stock Exchange 

Dinner with Light Entertainment 

Keynote Address 

Mr Femi Otedola, President and CEO Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited, Seaforce Shipping 

Coy Limited, Nigeria High Commissioner (tbc) 

Special Remarks 

Mr Ribadu Nuhu, Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission 

Mr Albert Okumagba, Managing Director BGL 

Special Presentation 

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria plc 

> 


3

38 

10.00pm Entertainment 

10.30pm 


Response from the Diaspora 

Mr Afolabi Andu, CEO of Best of Nigeria - Branding Nigeria 

Champions Club - Business Infrastructure and Access to Finance 

Nigerian Female Investor 

10.45pm V ote of Thanks/Closing Prayers 

Mr Nicholas Okoye, Head of Strategy, Nigeria Stock Exchange 

Our research shows us that Africans want to increase investment in 

Africa. While African governments have put in place various policies to 

facilitate investment by large multinationals, little has been done to 

enable the inflow of investment from private individuals. We are keen 

that Africans in the Diaspora are recognised as key players and key 

investors in Africa, 

Dr Banjoko Chairperson NEPAD-AfricaRecruit

40 

SUCCESS STORY 



41

When AfricaRecruit was launched in 2002, I provided an endorsement 

in the firm belief that its objectives were not only noble but also 

realizable. Since then, the initiative has performed creditably and 

become a key part of the NEPAD programme to mobilize quality skills for 

Africa. 

H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the African Union 

Who we are 

AfricaRecruit is a programme plan of action to build robust and enduring capacity in Africa using human resources and 

skills capacity. It is a joint project of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Business Council and the New 

Partnership for Africa s Development. AfricaRecruit has been at the forefront of mobilising skills and human resources 

capacity building in and outside of Africa over the last 3 years, in addition to facilitating the African Diaspora towards 

capacity building in Africa either through skills or investment in areas such as remittances and investment 

opportunities. 

AfricaRecruit was formally launched in 2002, as an offshoot of www.findajobinafrica.com that was established in 1999. 

AfricaRecruit acts as a platform for debate with the African Diaspora on how to add value to capacity building in Africa 

with main skills, labour and human resources as the main driver. 

AfricaRecruit structure consists of: 

n w w w.findajobinafrica.com a one-stop employment search engine for Africa an online job board is used by recruiters 

inside and outside Africa, employers in Africa to connect with jobseekers inside and outside Africa 

n Planned networking events that bring educational institutions, recruiters, entrepreneurs, job seekers and 

business 

and political leaders together in face-to-face settings. 

n Pre-return seminars and workshops that provide both returnees and Africa-based recruiters with pragmatic 

information and tips on how to be successful in the transition process. 

n Pioneering role in the extensive survey and study of the brain drain phenomenon, especially between the major 

industrial western countries and African countries, and the uses of the human capital in the destination countries. 


44 

n Engagement with International and African governments on policy formulation to ensure benefits of migration 

are captured by African countries 

The numerous current initiatives in Africa require high-level scientific 

technological and managerial skills. The question is where are the skills 

going to come from. Our answer is that from Africans in the Diaspora 

and the rest of the world. The training of new graduates will take at least 

a generation 

or longer but the skills are needed now if the further deepening of 

poverty and marginalisation is to be reversed. This is the rationale for the 

Africa Recruit project . New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD) March 2005 

AfricaRecruit- One of NEPAD big achievements for just four years 


Foundation IntEnt aims to contribute to the development and strengthening of entre p reneurship in the following African countries, 

Ghana, Ethiopia and Morocco assisting (starting) migrant entre p reneurs, who wish to set up business in their country of origin, thro u g h 

training, counselling, facilitation of a market re s e a rch and mediation to obtain bank financing. IntEnt works closely with local partners, 

donor organisations, financing institutions and migrant organisations to offer the best and most professional assistance to our start-up 

clients. For details and apply http://www.ondernemenoverdegrens.nl/


Cashmopolitan Ltd ( Cashmo ) 

Cashmo is a London based money transfer company regulated by the UK Treasury. Cashmo focuses on worker 

remittances from Europe into Africa, aiming to offer a cost effective alternative to existing money transfer firms, with 

first class support and customer service. It is the first African owned person-to-person money transfer firm active across 

the African continent. 

The company was set up to bridge the gap between small single country operators or internet based money transfer 

firms on the one hand, and large established companies such as Western Union and Moneygram on the other hand. 

Cashmo is controlled by the Sydmor Finance group, a London finance advisory firm specialising in Africa, alongside 

private investors mainly from the City in London. 

Cashmo started trading at the end of 2004 using a proprietary money transfer payment system, providing a secure 

end-to-end link from collecting agents to paying banks in the destination countries. Cashmo operates from a call centre 

in North London and its combined staff has more than 40 years of experience in the key business functions (banking, 

money transfer operations, IT and retail customer services). 

Cashmo currently operates from the UK, Spain and Switzerland and delivers money on the same day to Cameroon, 

Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, with many more countries to follow. Cashmo has a network of more 

than 400 collection points, which comprise exclusive agents and paying banks, all being prime banks in their respective 

delivery countries. 

More information on the company is available at w w w.cashmo.net. 

Moyo Kamgaing 

Moyo Kamgaing is the promoter and Managing Director of Cashmo. A banker by background, Mr. Kamgaing started 

his career with Bankers Trust in1986. He advised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on its US downstream 

plans, the African Development Bank on its trading facilities in Abidjan, and over time arranged loans in excess of $800 

mm from Zimbabwe (aircraft acquisition financing) to Tunisia (private placements) and Ghana (structured loans). As 

V ice President in charge of West Africa, he arranged Ghana s first euroloan, a $75 mm syndicated facility for GNPC, 

and the country s first ever coca financing, a $150 mm syndication for Ghana Cocoa Board, which received the 

Euromoney Deal of the Year A ward for Africa in 1994. He also led the bank s team on the short list for the Ashanti 

Goldfields IPO in 1994. 

Mr. Kamgaing set up Sydmor, the parent company of Cashmo in 1996 and has since completed a number of significant 

financing transactions with Sydmor notably: 


48 

n Ghana s first sovereign loan, an $80 mm oil import facility via Citibank (1995). 

n The first ever commodity pre-export facility for a Sub-Saharan private firm, a FF 400 mm facility syndicated 

by Dresdner Bank for SICC of Cote d Ivoire (1996). 

n The structuring of the first ever BOT to finance a $20 mm container scanner contract by Heimann S.A. in 

Abidjan (1999). 

n The acquisition by local investors of a controlling interest in the privatization of Socapalm, the largest agro 

industrial company in Cameroon (2001). 

Since 2002, Mr. Kamgaing has been involved in principal equity transactions. He was one of the first phase investors 

in Eptica, a French software publisher specializing in web-based CRM (www.eptica.com) and started Atelco, a VOIP 

telephony provider for Africa. Mr. Kamgaing them started Cashmo in 2004. 

More information on Sydmor is available on w w w.sydmor.com. 

Mr. Kamgaing graduated from HEC Paris (1983) and Sloan School of Management at MIT (MSc. Honors, 1986). He 

is fluent in both French and English. 


50 

NEPAD 

Introduction and Background 

The Journey So Far 

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is now four years old. The foundation document, which 

outlines NEPAD’s vision, principles and priorities, was adopted by the Assembly of African Heads of State and 

Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), in July 2001. 

This was followed by the preparation of policy frameworks and indicative plans for the following priority areas: the AU’s 

peace support operations capacity; standards and guidelines for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), 

N E PAD’s instrument for promoting good governance; the NEPAD Health Strategy; the Education Action Plan (now 

under review); the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP); the Short-Term Action Plan 

(STAP) for Infrastructure Development, the Science and Technology Strategic Plan, the Environment Action Plan, the 

Tourism Action Plan and the Africa Productive Capacity Action Plan. All the sectoral plans were adopted by the A U 

Assembly after consideration by African experts and Ministers. 

Position papers were also prepared on debt owed by the African countries to the developed countries and multilateral 

institutions, international trade, development finance, information and communications technology (ICT) and HIV/AIDS. 

N E PAD also organised major workshops and conferences with civil society and the private sector. 

The key NEPAD principles and messages are: African ownership and responsibility for the continent’s development; 

the promotion and advancement of democracy, human rights, good governance and accountable leadership; selfreliant 

development to reduce dependency on aid; building capacity in African institutions; promoting intra-Africa trade 

and investment; accelerating regional economic integration; advancing women; strengthening Africa’s voice in 

international forums; and forging partnerships with African civil society, the private sector, other African countries and 

the international community. 

These are the principles and messages that the architects of NEPAD have been advocating since programme was 

initiated in 2000. They underline the fact that Africans have decided it is time they took charge of their own destiny and 

determined a development path for the continent in the 21st century. Taking charge means accepting responsibility for 

addressing the core challenges facing the continent. These include resolution of conflicts, poverty reduction, fighting 

corruption, eliminating the burden of disease and strengthening the capacities of African States. 

Details of the publication can be viewed at http://www.nepad.org 

By WL Nkuhlu, 

Chief Executive NEPAD Secretariat June 2005 



E-learning: a new option for skills transfer 

The MIDA programme using the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) launched its pilot initiative in 

distance learning in September 2003. The project while easing mobility facilitates transfer of skills virtually to reach a 

wider audience in a traditional higher education setting. It links the diaspora and the educational institutions within the 

country as well 

as between countries and provides training and professional development in a cost effective way. It not only helps to 

build capacity but also contributes to retaining trained professionals in the home country. 

700 second year PhD students benefitted from this project which brings together the University of Lubumbashi (UNILU) 

in Democratic Republic of Congo and the University Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Belgium and IOM. Funded by the 

Belgian Government, the training courses are worked out in Belgo-Congolese twinning arrangements and are selected 

according to the course requirements of the UNILU and the availability of competences within the Congolese diaspora. 

Similar Elearning programmes will be extended during this year (2004) to Rwanda and Burundi as well within the 

f r a m e w o r k 

of the same project. 

This form of co-operation has stirred an immense interest amongst other donor countries and arouses a growing 

interest in the higher educational Institutions where demand far exceeds supply. IOM in order to broaden its outreach 

w i l l 

be collaborating with the African Virtual University which has 29,000 students and targets 29 member States in 

Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone to build synergies among the African diaspora and countries of origin as 

well as host countries. 

Communicating the ongoing changes in Africa to the Diaspora is vital 

as this will increase the confidence of the many Diaspora Investors 

Mr Alistair Soyode CEO BenTV 


52 

BIOGRAPHIES 

Simon Hardford (Chief Executive, Virgin Nigeria Airways) 

Early career spent in investment banking (UBS Warburg) and strategy consulting (Boston Consulting Group) in 

Scandinavia, Canada, UK and Asia. 

Joined British Airways in 1995 in their Corporate Development team. Co-founder of Go, the highly successful lowcost 

airline subsidiary of British Airways, where he was a Director from 1997-2001. Joined the Executive Board of 

British Airways plc in 1999, latterly as Director of e-Business, until resignation in late 2000. 

Subsequently created Germany s first low-cost airline owned by TUI A G, the world s largest integrated tourism group, 

and then advised a sovereign government in the Middle East on their aviation and tourism interests. 

Holds BA from Oxford University and MBA from INSEAD (France). He is married with two young children, and 

interests include international development and various sports. 

V irgin Nigeria (www.virginnigeria.com) is the new Nigerian flag carrier. It is an entirely private sector partnership 

owned 51% by major Nigerian institutional investors, and 49% by Virgin Atlantic Limited (which itself is owned 51% 

by Sir Richard Branson and 49% by Singapore Airlines). 

V irgin Nigeria is commencing operations during mid-2005, and will operate routes from its hub at Lagos - 

domestically within Nigeria, regionally around Africa and intercontinentally to Europe, Middle East, Asia and 

Americas. 

Janet Narh 

Janet is a British National of Ghanaian origin, she works as a professional Radio and TV broadcaster, specialising in 

current affairs and topical issues. Janet has her own production company producing Adult Talk Shows and Videos 

for children. Programmes such as Talk Ghana, One to One with Janet and Kelewele children s programmes are 

among several, that Janet has produced which have been broadcasted on the Sky Satellite Channel- OBE. Janet is 

a Christian and believes very much in social justice. 

Janet s popular African Language videos for children which are distributed by BIS Publications, are used widely in 

primary schools in the UK and have received reviews from the BBC and the Times Educational Supplement. 

Janet trained in the Legal Profession in the UK, working in the legal sector for over ten years, specialising in 

Immigration, Employment and Family Law; however she has now made a career change and concentrates mainly on 

the media. 

In addition to working in Radio and T V, Janet hosts live events working as a professional Master of Ceremony or 


Moderator at events hosted by corporate and diplomatic missions in particular, events held by A WHAM (Association 

of Wives of Heads of African Missions). 

Janet s extensive experience and strong ties in the African Community has led her to extending her skills into marketing 

and PR where she has played a key role in successfully launching and marketing new services and products into the 

African Caribbean Community. Namely the popular phone card Call Mama , the exclusive fabric produced by Princess 

Adelaide Olagbaju-Kente Oke and Cashmo Money Transfer. Further, Janet organises, participates and supports many 

African events, in the United Kingdom. 

Platform Africa, co-hosted by Janet, presently being broadcasted between 7.00-9.00pm every Thursday on 

w w w.gfmradio.com. Platform Africa is also aired live into Accra Ghana, via Radio Gold 90.5 FM, thus making the 

programme interactive with listeners across the globe, in particular Ghana. 

Ebrahim Sanyang (President & CEO Invest Gambia) 

Advising, Recommending, Supporting and lobbying The Gambia Government on key National Development initiatives 

and policies. We represent, promote, market Gambia as a brand in the Global Market Place. I take key decisions on 

Gambia s development. 

1995 Newham college of Higher Education with A levels in Government and Politics, Business Studies 

and Computer Science. 

1996 JP Consultants (holborn) where i achieved NVQIII Information Systems Design and Production. 

1996 University of Luton studying a joint degree BSC Human Geography and BA Public 

1999 - 2000 I studied My MSc Human Resource Management 

200 - 2001 Project Officer (Global Asset Management) 

2001 - 2002 Project Dev Supervisor (Global Asset Management) 

2002 - 2004 Project Development Manager (Allied Corporations Gambia ACG) 

2004 - 2005 Managing Director (Allied Corporation Gambia ACG) 

2005 Date Chief Executive (Invest Gambia) 

Jawahiry Adam 

Nationality Somali 

Education Master of Studies in Forced Migration, St. Antony s College, University of Oxford, U.K, July 2000 


54 

Diploma, Events Management, George Washington University, School of Business and Public Management, 

W ashington DC, U.S.A, June1997 

Diploma, Business Administration, Polytechnic Institute, Khartoum, Sudan,1978 

W ork Experience 

Currently works as a consultant on Humanitarian issues mainly with the UN Agencies in Switzerland. 

Former World Bank staff member for 16 years. 

Countries Worked 

Yemen, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, USA, Kuwait, and Sierra Leone. 

Languages 

Fluent in English, Arabic and Somali 

Babs O. ADENAIKE is a graduate of Genetics and two masters degrees, one in Information Science and the other in 

Business Administration. He has been working with the EU-ACP Centre for the Development of Enterprises (CDE), 

an institution under the Cotonou Agreement that is based in Brussels, since July 1986. He was seconded to the EU- 

ACP PRO?INVEST programme, a Management Unit of CDE in 2002, along with others to start it up. He is the 

Coordinator in charge of capacity building to A C P intermediary organisations. 

Dr Eric Soubeiga, ORPA Steering Committee Chair, Business Advisor 

Strategic and Commercial Intelligence, KPMG UK 

Dr Eric Soubeiga is a business advisor within Strategic and Commercial Intelligence (SCI), at KPMG. Dr Soubeiga is 

also Steering Committee Chair of Operational Research Practice in Africa (ORPA), an initiative which aims to promote 

t h e 

use of quantitative approaches to enhance organisational performance in African governments and industries. The first 

O R PA conference was successfully held in April 2005 in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and was hosted by the country s 

Prime Minister. The next ORPA conferences will be held in Africa every two years with Pretoria (South Africa) being the 

host for 2007. A Diaspora ORPA conference, however, will be held in London in June 2006. See http://www.euro 

online.org/africanOR/orpa2005 for further details. 

Babs O. ADENAIKE 

Babs O. ADENAIKE is a graduate of Genetics and two masters degrees, one in Information Science and the other in 

Business Administration. He has been working with the EU-ACP Centre for the Development of Enterprises (CDE), an 

institution under the Cotonou Agreement that is based in Brussels, since July 1986. He was seconded to the EU-ACP 


charge of capacity building to A C P intermediary organisations. 

Mr Clement Mwatsama: Consultant in Tourism 

B A Economics and Sociology Consul General of Kenya - Switzerland 

Licensing officer and Secretary to Hotels and Restaurants Authority Information and Tourist AttachØ London 

Member World Tourism Organisation Quality Support Committee 

Director of Tourism Republic of Kenya 

Currently Membership co-ordinator, Connections for Development Ltd - UK 

Relevant Experience 

Presided over the rationalisation Of Kenyan Tourist Offices abroad Outcome: Phased closure and transfer of function 

to the Kenya Tourist Board. Presided over the rationalisation of the Tourism Portfolio during Kenya s Public service 

reform 

Outcome Right sizing/retrenchment programme 

Patrick Frederick (Chief Executive, Aimex International) 

B.Sc.(Hons) in Engineering; MBA Cass Business School. Born in the Caribbean (Dominica). Has 40 years experience 

with Smiths Industries Plc (Engineering), J.P.Morgan Inc (Investment Banking) and running own consultancy providing 

corporate funding & advisory services to international SME s and UK Government. CEO of Friends in the City 

(London), Director of Bird of Paradise Properties (Australia) and Jamieson Ventures Group (Canada). Member of 

Corporate and SME Councils for the Confederation of British Industry reviewing Government s performance on 

Encouraging more enterprise in disadvantaged communities and under-represented groups, All-Party Parliamentary 

Group on Entrepreneurship and London Development Agency s Private Investment Commission. Formally inaugural 

Chairman of the African Caribbean Business Network, Adviser to Creative London and Non-Executive Director of 

SpringBoard4Business. 

Alexander Amosu 

Alexander Amosu, a young entrepreneur who turned his interest in technology and the mobile phone industry into a 

commercial success story, now heads a business at the forefront of mobile entertainment. Alexander was the first 

person to created Free Ringtones Day, where company had over 75,000 orders in one day, he donated all the revenue 

for Free Ringtones Day to Teenage Cancer Trust which amounted to thousands of pounds. Understanding the target 

market that it serves underpins RnB World s success. This knowledge enables RnB World to keep abreast of current 

trends while responding proactively to an ever-changing market. 


58 

Alexander has sold rnbringtones and has now started a new company www.mobsvideo.com, where you will be able to 

access mobile video downloads direct to your phone. It is exactly this kind of ethos, which is reflective of its founder 

Alexander that ensures he will continue to dominate the youth territor. 

Dr Ken Ife 

Dr Ken Ife is a Manufacturing Chemist, Educationist and International Economic Development Consultant who has 

been running his businesses in the last 20 yrs with controlling interests in: 

n Cosmetics Manufacturing in North London Economic Development 

n Computer Education & Training based in several London Boroughs, and Telecom Operator 

He is promoting entrepreneurship as Chair of Haringey Business Development Agency that specializes in BME 

business development; Board Member of London Food Board; supporting social and economic inclusion through 

Founding Chair of European Regeneration Pathway(Edmonton); and supporting African Caribbean Businesses as 

Director of African Caribbean Business Network(ACBN) which it represents in Business Link Stakeholder Members 

Board. He currently hold the position of Senior Visiting Fellow of the University of East London(Business School) 

He is contributing to policy through membership of the London Development Agency s Advisory Group on Business 

and Education and contributing to the new economic vision in Inner-cities as Business Champion, Haringey City 

Growth Strategy as well as through his involvement in many Local and Strategic Partnerships. As a Corporate member 

of Africa Business Round Table/NEPAD Business Group, he has key role in policy and strategy formulation on Africa. 

Dr Chris West (Deputy Director, Shell Foundation) 

Having gained a DPhil from the University of Oxford, Chris started his own business to provide environmental advice 

and services to private sector and public sector organizations. After successfully selling this company, he then joined 

the UK Department for International Development, where in his position as Senior Environmental Adviser to both Lynda 

Chalker and then Clare Short, he worked with a wide variety of donors, corporations and NGO’s in over 60 developing 

countries and middle-income countries. He joined the Shell Foundation as Deputy Director in 2001. Within the 

Foundation he 

is responsible for the overall management of programmes, and leads efforts to establish new initiatives around the 

world with financial institutions and corporate partners that support the start up and growth of pro-poor small 

enterprises. 

Georgina Taiwo Akibo-Betts (BSC Hons) - Coordinator, 

The Sierra Leone War Trust for Children (SLW T ) 

Georgina Akibo-Betts has been the Coordinator at SLW T for nearly two years. SLW T is a UK registered charity which 

was formed in April 1999 by seven Sierra Leoneans, living and working in the UK. This was in response to the atrocities 

committed against children and youth in Sierra Leone, during the country’s ten year civil war. SLW T is committed to 


improving the life chances of these war affected children by implementing sustainable structures for development. 

Georgina is the only paid staff in the UK. She worked in TV Production at the BBC for three years, before joining SLW T. 

As a Sierra Leonean with a passion for African development, she is pleased to be an active contributor to the 

improvement and development of Africa, especially Sierra Leone and its children. SLW T is a member of the African 

Diaspora Voices (ADVAD) and the Sierra Leone Diaspora Network (SLDN). www.slwt.org info@slwt.org 

Emelia Bartels 

Emelia is a Director at Excell Consultancy Ltd, PR, Marketing Communications, Advertising & Research, Event 

Management, and Consulting firm based in the United Kingdom (UK). She started the consultancy in July 2000, which 

has consistently built a stable and growing client base. 

In July 2001, Emelia founded the GPA Awards which is an annual event aimed at enhancing, promoting, honouring and 

raising the profile of Ghana’s business and Professional Community in the UK. In addition it aims to promote 

international trade for African-owned businesses- as well as encourage growth, excellence and innovation. Over the 

years the awards have grown to encompass professional development programs for the businesses and professionals 

in the community. 

Emelia also presents Business Profile on OBE T V, sky digital channel 223, which targets Professionals and Business 

Owners in the Black community to showcase their achievements, new business ideas, products and services. The 

programme also seeks to promote young entrepreneurs and professionals in the community, to act as role models for 

young people. 

Emelia in recent times has written for a number of UK magazines and publications on PR and Event Management. She 

is currently working on her first book, which she hopes to publish by Autumn 2006. 

Emelia is a Christian, an avid teacher and trainer; she has a great desire to see individuals and businesses placed on 

what she terms the ’Global Recognition Map’. She believes with the right encouragement, training, advice, coaching, 

determination and support, one can be all that they want to be. 

Gary Munroe - MD Active Intel 

Gary Munroe was born in Toronto, Canada of Guyanese parents. He spent his early years of education in Guyana, 

England and subsequently Nigeria where he obtained a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, majoring in 

Satellite Communications. 

He then joined the Royal Air Force as an Engineering Officer on a Permanent Commission. During this period he setup 

an Electronic Warfare School, managed a fleet of 9 Lockheed L-1011aircraft, developed the Integrated Logistics 

Support Policy for the Ministry of Defence (Air), managed Defence contracts in excess of £25M, developed 

maintenance strategies for the United Kingdom E3-D surveillance fleet and, been an implementer and advisor to the 

Royal Air Force on Ethnic Minority recruitment policy and strategy. 


60 

He is currently working on further innovative IT products including converting the INDI All-In One PC to double as a T V 

and an all in one secure unit for the banking industry. 

Meera Sethi 

A PhD from the US in Public Administration and Comparative Government and nine years of teaching, training and 

research experience in India, Ethiopia, Zambia, USA. 

Joined the UN in 1990 and worked a year with ILO/UNDP on a regional Project that involved building capacity of 

management institutes in Africa 

Nearly five years 1991 -1995 worked in the Economic Commission for Africa in the area of Public Administration, 

Human Resource and Social Development. One of the areas specifically involved in was brain drain and policies on 

human resource development; also served as Project Manager for the first ever regional programme on the Return of 

S k i l l s 

to Africa. 

Joined IOM in 1995 as the Head of the Country Office in Ethiopia and served nine years in this capacity. Was 

instrumental in negotiating the cooperation agreement with the African Union in 1998 and from 1999 to 2003 

undertook all liaison activities with the AU, ECA as well as NEPAD and played a key role in placing migration and 

diaspora issues on the agenda of the Labor and Social Affairs, Ministers of Health, African Population Commission, 

and so forth. In 2001 the Heads of State endorsed the Lusaka Decision on Strategic framework for Migration Policy 

in Africa including the well known programme on Migration for Development in Africa. 

In 2002 a landmark decision was adopted on Human Resource Development in the Health Sector. 

In 2004 transferred to IOM HQS as the Regional Advisor for Sub Saharan Africa and one of my responsibilities includes 

promoting migration issues with the regional economic communities such as SADC, ECOWAS, IGAD, CENSAD etc. 

" Nigeria is changing, and we are inviting the World to be a part of that 

Change, we are committed to reform and the results are already 

beginning to show, if you invest in Nigeria now you will reap the 

rewards and the promises of a new Nigeria". 

Dr. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke Director General and CEO Nigerian Stock Exchange 


Taroon Japal 

I am IT graduate from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technoly. Been in the IT sector for the last 25 years with 

last 8years actively involved in Africa. Presently Regional Manager for Oracle looking after East and Mid Africa. Have worked in 

many capacities from Programmer ,to head of IT, Manager Software, Customer care, General Manger of IT service oriented 

company ,to the present job...Cheers 

Alain Mbe (Tycoon in the making) 

Alain Mbe, aka Mr No Deposit, is a former IT Consultant turned entrepreneur who boasts of extensive skills in Creative Property 

Investments. Like generations of immigrants before him, Alain Mbe arrived in the United Kingdom with little more than intelligence, 

courage, and desire to succeed. Currently aged only 32, Property is opening the golden door. He has been involved in property 

for over 10 years and has a substantial portfolio of his own. Alain is an inspiration as he shows what ordinary people can achieve 

with determination and the right advice. 

Modise MOTLOBA 

He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Vukani Investment Management Services, a niche black-owned and managed 

firm in the financial services sector. Modise has extensive experience in management consulting, information technology and the 

financial sector developing solutions for clients in Africa. 

He is the recipient of the prestigious 2003 Black Business Quarterly Investment Specialist Award. This award recognised a leader 

who made a lasting contribution in the investments arena and broader financial and economic landscape. The leader must have 

demonstrated drive and commitment to Black Economic Empowerment and Employment Equity. 

Modise is a board member of the South African Financial Markets Board and member of the Standing Committee on the Revision 

of the Bank s Act 1990, under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and is a director of various companies including Harmony 

Gold Mining, Deutsche Bank SA, WealthRidge Investments, Uthajiri Investments and Africa Vukani Investment Management 

Services (Pty) Ltd. 

Joyce Mpofu of South Africa Association Of Investors -SAAI 

Ten years international experience working across different sectors in social and market research consultancy, new product 

development and classical marketing. Have designed, managed, implemented, analysed and reported on both qualitative and 

quantitative research projects for a wide range of clients in the private and public sectors including Unilever, Coca-Cola, BAT, PSI, 

W orld Bank, Oxfam and TAC. I have offered overall management of events from conceptualisation, sponsorship proposal writing, 

logistics, gifts, facilitation documentation and evaluation. I have had the opportunity to be on both agency/consultancy and client- 


62 

Mr. Kwabena Antwi (Non Residents Ghanaian Secretariat at the 

Ghana Investment Promotion Centre) 

Mr. Kwabena Antwi is the Public Relations Manager and head of the Non Residents Ghanaian Secretariat at the Ghana 

Investment Promotion Centre. 

He holds a post graduate qualification in Communication Studies from the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana 

Legon. He has attended a number of management courses in Ghana and Abroad and was the Director of the Home Coming 

Summit Secretariat which organised the first ever homecoming conference for Ghanaians living abroad. 

Before joining the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Antwi was The Supplies Manager and Accra Representative of Twifo 

Oil Palm Plantation, the largest EEC funded Agro-Industrial Complex in West Africa. 

Mr Nicholas Okoye 

Nicholas Okoye is the Chief Strategy Officer/Technical Advisor to the Director- General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange. He has 

wide experience in advanced financial management and large scale project financing. In the NSE, he is responsible for building 

a global franchise for the exchange. This involves getting an estimated 10 million Nigerians in the Diaspora to invest in the Nigerian 

economy. He used to be a financial consultant and global investment advisor for Merrill Lynch. He has worked as a consultant 

with the Nigeria’s Investment Promotion Commission, the Anambra State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and the 

Federal Ministry of Commerce. He studied Apply Microbiology and Genetic Engineering at the Anambra State University of 

Technology graduating in 1988; after which he was at Harvard University Boston Massachusetts USA to study Global 

Management and Technology. 

Ngenda Kigaraba 

Economics first degree University of Sussex and a Diploma for fund advisory in Switzerland. From Tanzania born in Kenya and 

has been living in Europe for the last years. She is a partner at Pragma Consult GmbH an organisation involved private equity 

and debt financing as well as trade 

Mick Csaky 

During the past 30 years Mick Csaky has produced & directed more than 100 award winning documentary films; in 

addition to executive producing a further 600. The majority of his productions have been made for the international film, 

television and DVD markets. Past productions include the 8 x 1-hour series "AFRICA" presented by Basil Davidson 

(Channel Four), the 90-minute biography "REBEL MUSIC: The Bob Marley Story" (Channel Four); the 90-minute 

biography "CHASING A RAINBOW: The Josephine Baker Story"(Channel Four); the 6 x 1-hour series "THE MIDAS 


TOUCH" presented by Anthony Sampson (BBC2) and the 120-minute "AFRICA LIVE: The Roll Back Malaria Concert" 

(BBC2). 

Emmanuel F. Argo PhD 

Emmanuel Argo, President, Global African Diaspora Coalition (GLAD) and AVENIR NEPAD INTERNATIONAL. A 

professor of European Community Law, he has over 30 years of professional experience as an international consultant 

and adviser and has served in various institutions in Europe including 12 years in Africa. He has been intricately involved 

in the economic and political development of Southern Africa and has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the 

region. He also served as an expert on the Social and Economic committee of the European Community in Brussels. 

He was subsequently appointed an expert for SADC (Southern African Development Community) to facilitate business 

and commercial ties and act as liaison between French speaking countries in Europe with their Southern African 

counterparts. He is currently the Chief Executive of Initiative Development Consultancy Ltd (IDC Ltd - HYPERLINK 

"http://www.idc.eu.com" www.idc.eu.com). He has written a number of published articles and is also a co-author of a 

book on NEPAD titled NEPAD and the African Renaissance , published in May 2005. 

Jim Baker 

Jim Baker is Chief Officer of Connections for Development, a network committed to involving Black & Minority Ethnic 

people in the United Kingdom in International Development, i.e. ‘stuff back home’. 

In a personal capacity Jim has been involved in initiatives involving BME since people 1966 (when he helped out in 

Cardiff), he has been a trade union branch Chairman, volunteer in various advice and advocacy organisations, a 

Southampton Labour Party Councillor, Board Member of the South East England Development Agency, Chair of the 

South East England Regional Network of BME organisations, a Director of Kent Business Link, adviser to local 

government, and is currently a member of a Home Office Advisory Group on involvement with the voluntary sector. 

As an employee, he worked in local government in Sheffield and Hammersmith & Fulham (where he was Director of the 

Ethnic Minorities Department), Director of a Race Equality Council, Chief Officer of a Council for Voluntary Service and 

was a free lance consultant for 10 years. Additionally from 1992 to 20000 he wrote a weekly column in the Barbados 

Advocate, headed Opinion from London. 

He has done other stuff but this is just to give a perspective of how old he is, certainly how old he feels. 

Edward Kirathe 

Edward Kirathe is Chairman and Business Development and Marketing Director at A C P. For the past 3 years, he has 

been Managing Director of Consolsia Ltd. a project Management consultancy firm whose clients include Coca-Cola 

Africa, Kenya Ports Authority and Cooper Kenya. He has worked for over 7 years as a project architect or manager on 

projects whose aggregate value is over Kshs. 2 billion. These projects include residential developments, office blocks 

and fit-outs, a cruise ship terminal, factories and commercial mixed urban developments. He is registered architect and 


66 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

Royal Institute of International Affairs 

The Africa Programme aims to develop foreign policy-orientated research on issues affecting individual states of Africa, 

the African continent as a whole and their relations with the outside world.The Africa Programme also promotes Africa 

in Britain and the European Union by bringing together and maximising the expertise available on Africa in the UK from 

the commercial, academic and NGO sectors and by acting as a forum for visiting Africans. 

w w w.chathamhouse.org.uk/africa

Corporate organizations especially multinational organizations with businesses in Africa, political activists, 

governments, individuals, communities, artistes, professionals, etc can not afford to miss a medium as desirable as 

this to promote their interests; or market their services and products. 

For more information, jadergroup@yahoo.co.uk and +447050 075154 

E wa jo 

E wa jo - An African arts and culture experience at the shopping centres. 

Introduction 

E wa jo is an African Arts and Culture festival that is aimed at celebrating and promoting the traditions of Africa and 

Africans in Diaspora. The term E wa jo means ’come and dance’ in Yoruba language which originates from Nigeria in 

West Africa. 

E wa jo combines many of the strengths of African creativity in a summertime festival. The event programme highlights 

the cultural mix that continues to raise awareness of Africa in the UK community. 

The festival also illustrates how we celebrate African heritage in the context of entertainment, visual arts displays and 

cultural promotions. 

E wa jo will yearly showcase the rich cultural arts of Africa in UK shopping malls. Cultural display will consist of activities 

such as tribal performances, drumming workshops, dance, poetry, music, storytelling, literature and visual arts 

exhibitions. 

It is aimed that African vibes is outreached to the wider public. 

E wa jo was launched in July 2004 at Lakeside Shopping Centre Thurrock , Essex. 

The year 2005 saw the arrival of the Africa05 programme in which E wa jo has been a key player. 

E wa jo 2005 is thereby being practised in UK shopping centres: - Surrey Quays, Lakeside, Milton Keynes, BrentCross 

, Whiteleys and Trocadero. 


68 

African tourism promotions at E wa jo 

As E wa jo seeks to enhance cultural presentations to the wider community, it is essential that tourism promotions are 

included in the repertoire. 

E wa jo has been very instrumental in presenting Africa to the UK and without a doubt tourism exhibitions will create 

more eagerness in the public to visit Africa. 

Africa can boast of eco-tourism facilities which itself consists of so many myths and wonders. 

It appears that these elements of nature should be used extensively in attracting visitors. 

Biography 

Olakunle A wosusi is an Information Technology professional, skilled percussionist and DJ with significant expertise in 

cultural event productions and management. 

Whilst DJing in Jazz-funk and Rare groove has been Kunle’s genre of DJing his love for African heritage and passion 

for African music and dance art has culminated in the establishment of Jowa Promotions. 

Jowa Promotions ltd is an organisation that produces, manages and promotes innovative Urban and African events. 

Examples of such events include musicals DJPromotions, charity functions and fashion shows. 

Jowa Promotions ethos is to celebrate and promote urban and African talent in the form of music and dance art across the 

UK. 

Once fully established in the UK, it is anticipated that Jowa Promotions will extend reach to Europe. 

Personalities such as Peter Badejo OBE, Gina Yashere , John Fashanu and Councillor Lola Ayorinde are amongst the key 

supporters. 

Black Business Initiative (BBI) 

Black Business Initiative (BBI) is a social enterprise agency established and registered in England and Wales as a 

company limited by guarantee in June 2001. The primary aim of BBI is to promoting, sustaining & rewarding 

entrepreneurship , particularly within the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community. 

W e are working in partnership with Southwark Council at the present moment to provide enterprise development 

initiatives for the BME community. BBI is also interested in working with international governments and non 

governmental organizations in providing enterprise focused consultancy support projects in the developing countries, 


particularly, Africa, Caribbean, etc 

Among the range of services being provided by BBI to BME businesses, professionals and individuals are: 

n Business Support 

n Black Business A wards 

n Southwark Ethnic Business Association (SEBA) 

n Business Communications - Ethno News 

n Black and Minority Ethnic Business Directory 

W e organised Black Business Awards every year to recognise the economic contributions of black people to the 

British society. This year event is taking place at the London Hilton Hotel, Surrey Quays. 

To contact us 

Sunny Lambe (Founder & Executive Director) or Administrator 

Black Business Initiative (BBI) 

bbinitiative@aol.com 

w w w.bbinitiative.com 

About Kenya Club 

Kenya Club was formed on July 2003, in London, as a fully independent non-political organisation, of like-minded 

professionals and entrepreneurs, in search of a networking environment conducive for espousing, developing and 

implementing sound economic ideas. 

The Club aims at harnessing the investment potential of Kenyans residing in the UK, as well as positioning Kenya as 

an emerging market to foreign investors. Strategically placed in one of Kenya’s largest trading partners, one of our 

main functions is to enhance Kenya’s image and market it as a quality provider of professional services and an ideal 

environment for investment. 

In addition the Club is a network of leading professionals, entrepreneurs and investors who are participating in 

the Government’s economic recovery strategy, by investing in Kenya and advocating for new technology driven 

industries as well as measures for the enhancement of productivity in the traditional sectors. w w w.kenyaclub.org 

Cedar Events 

Cedar Events is an event management company that specialises in event planning, management and production. Over 

the years Cedar have developed relationships with associates in and around the London area and have worked 

together to create flawless events. Our enviable portfolio of events includes Conferences, Seminars, Multicultural 

events, Gala Dinner and Charity Ball. The firm has worked with clients such as Africa Recruit, GWIIN and Shell 


70 

Africa Recruit: Bringing together the Diaspora 

In recent years, the African Diaspora have increasingly become a recognised force for development of their respective 

countries of origin. This fact has led to the proposition by various individuals amongst them President Wade of Senegal 

that the Diaspora should be recognises as a 6th region and be represented in the council of the Heads of States of the African 

Union. 

So much has been said about what the Diaspora can do in terms of development of the African continent. According 

to Mr Amir A Dossal, Executive Director of the UN Funds for International Partnership, the Diaspora community remains 

a key leadership component for Africa and that there is much benefit in using the expertise and resources of ex-patriots to 

strengthen native economies. In short the Diaspora can be a source of the much needed capital to revitalize the economies 

of the continent. 

The questions to be asked is how informed the Diaspora are of the contributions they can make to their homelands whilst in 

their host counties. Are they aware of the contributions that they already make in remittances? Are they aware of their ability 

to transfer skills to their home counties and build the capacity of nationals? Are they aware of the power they would wield in 

the decision making process of their countries if they formed themselves as an organised cohesive unit? Are they aware of 

the influence they could have on the leadership of their host countries through the power of the ballot box? Are they aware 

that if they are well organised and united, they could make an impact on the decisions made by their host countries regarding 

their home countries? 

AfricaRrecuit recognises the strength of the African Diaspora and the potential role they can play whilst residing in host 

countries. They also realise that the main obstacle facing the Diaspora is demonstrated by the lack of reliable 

information. As a programme plan of the NEPAD, AfricaRecruit plays a major role in communicating and reaching out 

to the Diaspora in an aim to make them aware of their strengths and ability to contribute to the overall development of 

Africa. This is achieved by the use of various outreach tools to reach specific and diverse group. 

An example of reaching a targeted group is demonstrated by the recently held Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Forum, 

which was facilitated by AfricaRecruit. This Forum brought together over 300 Sierra Leoneans and Sierra Leone 

stakeholders. The aim of Forum was to raise awareness and make information available on how the Sierra Leoneans 

in Diaspora can fully engage in the reconstruction and redevelopment of their country. (Report is available on line on 

w w w.africadiaspora.com) 

The African Diaspora Investment week aims to bring together a diverse group of approximately a thousand Africans 

from within and outside the United Kingdom. It seeks to increase the investment capacity of Africans in Diaspora by 

increasing the awareness and information of potential investment opportunities in Africa amongst other things 

AfricaRecruit in facilitating these processes understands that the Diaspora are a 

n source in strengthening the infrastructure and supporting the transfer of remittances from donors to recipients 

n potential source of capital developmental partnership and social capital resource e.g. source of information, 

knowledge and value capacity 

n source of human capital e.g. brain gain and brain circulation 

n source of nostalgia development e.g. African films, African food and products 

n means of global networks and partnership 


Mobilizing African Diaspora Resource for Youth Enterprise in Africa 

(AFFORD) 

Mobilizing Diaspora Skills, Knowledge & Experience: 

The African Foundation for Development (AFFORD) is mobilizing the diaspora s skills, knowledge and experience to 

provide assistance to organizations in Ghana and Sierra Leone. We shall partner with organizations where diaspora 

skills, knowledge and experience will result in more young people establishing SMEs, securing work, building skills 

and confidence. This initiative is in partnership with VSO. 

How will we do this? 

n By placing Africans in the UK with local/indigenous organizations/enterprises in Ghana & Sierra Leone for shortterm 

periods on a pro bono basis (travel and accommodation costs covered) 

n linking those unable to travel with local organizations so they can provide virtual /on-line assistance 

n By building a network of those interested in this initiative to allow exchange of ideas and information sharing 

What will the assignments involve? 

W e cannot be prescriptive at this stage, but they might include: 

n Practical support to important employment/enterprise generating sectors such as tourism, fisheries 

n Hands-on training, facilitation 

n Leadership development, management support 

n Access to new markets, technology, etc. 

When will the assignments start? 

n Current research phase to identify needs of African organizations will end by mid-November 2005 

n Recruitment and selection of candidates by January 2006 

n Assignments commence early 2006 

n In this first stage, we hope to recruit up to 10 advisors per country (ie 20 in total). 

What next? 

W e would like to hear from you if you: 

n Are part of the African diaspora, we are particularly keen to hear from Ghanaians and Sierra Leoneans for this 

first phase but we welcome all (we use African diaspora as an inclusive term) 

n Feel you can share on a pro bono basis - skills, knowledge and experience (gained from education, work, 

voluntary roles and leisure activities) to help young people in Africa help themselves and find meaning in 

their lives through productive work (we shall cover travel and accommodation costs) 

n Are passionate about participating in and contributing to Africa s development 

n Are available to spend time in Ghana or Sierra Leone or can contribute from a distance. 

Who do I contact to express interest in this initiative? 

Interested individuals should contact Christine Matambo, Youth Programme Officer, AFFORD on: 

T 020 7587 3900 F 020 7587 3919 Christine@afford-uk.org 


Proinvest 

Proinvest is an EU-ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) partnership programme developed and undertaken by the 

E u ropean Commission on behalf of the ACP countries. PROINVEST, which has a budget of 110 million EURO over a 

period of 7 years, is financed by the European Development Fund (EDF). The PROINVEST objective is to pro m o t e 

investment and technology flows to enterprises operating within key sectors in the ACP States. This will be achieved 

t h rough a two dimensional approach: to support intermediary organisations and professional associations and to develop 

i n t e r-enterprise partnerships. For details visit http://www. p ro i n v e s t - e u . o r g

The International Marketing Council of South Africa congratulates Dr Lola Banjoko and the Africa Diaspora Investment 

Forum 2005 on another dynamic initiative to focus attention in the United Kingdom of the huge investment potential of 

the African continent and the opportunities that await informed investors seeking to establish partnerships and 

investments in a continent The International Marketing Council (IMC) was established in August 2000 to create a 

positive and united image for South Africa. 

IMC Profile 

The International Marketing Council of South Africa was brought into being in August 2000 upon the realisation that it 

was absolutely imperative to create a positive and compelling brand image for South Africa. 

At the time, there were many messages entering the international arena. The messages were as varied as the source 

and, quite obviously, did very little for solid brand building. 

It was evident that a great need existed for a body able to co-ordinate the marketing initiatives in order to maximise 

their efficiency. 

The IMC’s main objective is the marketing of South Africa through the Brand South Africa campaign. 

Although there are many benefits to having a consolidated brand image, they all come down to one single benefit: A 

consistent Brand South Africa image will create a strategic advantage for our country in an increasingly competitive 

marketplace. 

Vision and Mandate 

The International Marketing Council is a public-private sector partnership mandated to position South Africa as one of 

the highly considered, non-traditional markets in terms of world trade, investment and tourism by 2010. 

The IMC’s mission is three-pronged: 

n To establish a brand for South Africa (Brand South Africa), which positions the country in terms of its investment 

and credit worthiness, exports, tourism and international relations objectives. 

n To establish an integrated approach within government and the private sector towards the international marketing 

of South Africa. 

n To build national support for the brand within South Africa itself. To achieve this, the IMC enlists the cooperation 

of 

government departments, public entities, the private sector and the non-governmental organisations.which is in 

the

74 

process of dramatic political, social and economic transformation. 

n The role of the African diaspora in attracting investment to African countries - in addition to the existing and 

substantial capital flows to the continent through remittances - has been largely underestimated in the past. 

n Encourage patriotism and national pride. Marketing South Africa internationally is futile without the support of the 

South African people. It is extremely important to align South Africans and provide them with positive information 

about our country’s abundant successes. 

n Leverage initiatives: We want to make sure that we perform at our peak when the eyes of the world are focused 

on 

us. As South Africa regularly plays host to significant worldwide events, it is crucial that we utilise them to full 

extent. 

n Provide leadership and a birds-eye-view. In support of this, the IMC has assisted some of South Africa’s major 

cities with their branding. 

n Share research and create strategic frameworks and tools with all institutions wishing to coordinate their 

marketing efforts. 

" The International Investment Road Show is designed to open up the 

opportunities present in Nigeria to the World. We have made progress, 

and we believe that the great things that are now happening in Nigeria, 

are sustainable and will usher in a new era of economic activity that will 

change the landscape of the entire African Continent". 

Nicholas Okoye Chief Strategy Officer Nigerian Stock Exchange 


Q U E S T I O N N A I R E 

Investment Training and Networking Programme for Africa Diasopra Investors 

This questionnaire is aimed at assessing the training needs of the Africa Diaspora Investors to enable the planning of 

a tailor made training. In answering question 2, you may tick more than 1 option. Please complete fully. Thank you. 

1 . Is an industry focused investment training relevant to you or the organisation you re p re s e n t ? 

❐ Ye s ❐ N O 

2 . If yes, please tell us the investment area(s) such training should cover 

❐ Investment ❐ F i n a n c e ❐ F r a n c h i s i n g ❐ F o reign Direct Investment ❐ Capital Market 

❐ Financial Services Management ❐ O t h e r 

4 . The training is planned to be given by field practitioners and would be industry focused. Please tell us 

which formula suits you 

❐ One full day ❐ Two half days ❐ One full day and one half day 

❐ One weekend (re s i d e n t i a l ) ❐ O t h e r : … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . 

5 . Please tell us how much you would consider to budget for a high value training programme as pro p o s e d 

❐ £ 1500 ❐ £ 2500 ❐ £ 3500 

❐ O t h e r (please specify) 

1 . 5 Would you like us to keep you informed of the first Investment Training and Networking section? 

❐ Ye s ❐ N O 

Please turn over 

> 


6 If yes, kindly provide us with your contact details (you may attach your business card ) 

Full Name 

Name of Organisation 

Full Address 1 

Full Address 2 

Telephone Number 

Fax Number 

Email Addre s s 

We b s i t e 

Completed questionnaire should be sent to: 

Collins NWEKE 

Consultant Africa Diaspora Investment 

Commonwealth Business Council 

18 Pall Mall 

London SW1Y 5LU 

T+ 44 207 024 8224 

F + 44 207 024 8201 

collins@africadiaspora.com 

www.africadiaspora.com 

Thank you very much for completing this questionnaire . 


80 

South African Association of Investors 

South African Association of Investors was established after a realization by founding members that there was little 

participation of ordinary South Africans in mainstream investment. The organisation promotes interactive learning 

among investors and potential investors of all levels. In South Africa, there is an enabling environment that has been 

put in place by our government to participate in investments, but most people do not know how to access those 

opportunities. Even in cases where they have done so, they do not fully understand what their investments mean. Our 

initial programme will focus on women entrepreneurs and youth, and HDI s in business in the SME Sector.

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