THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Development experts, scholars, activists and students, among other stakeholders, will gather in the German city of Tübingen and virtually on 25-26 November for the 2021 G-PAD Forum.
The annual event is a platform created by Lead Africa International, a global non-governmental organization dealing with development issues, “to promote shared knowledge of development policies that impact Africans and people of African descent and facilitate effective global partnerships towards achieving sustainable development in Africa”.
The theme of 2021 G-PAD Forum is Transformative Partnerships for Sustainable Development in Africa and the event will deliberate on strategies for mutually beneficial co-operation between Africa and its global partners to promote self-sufficiency and reduce aid dependency in Africa.
While Lead Africa International subscribes to the notion that trade and investment are the best vehicle to drive development, it however believes that the success of that strategy requires that prerequisites for economic growth such as health care, education and training are addressed.
“We would address these challenges and opportunities at the 2021 G-PAD Forum, a platform where civil society actors and experts can convene, address development issues, network, and collaborate to enhance the co-operation between Baden-Württemberg and African regions,” the organisation says.
Among the speakers who will speak at the 2-day event are Prof Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, renowned Kenyan intellectual and founder of the PLO Lumumba Foundation; Khaled Sheriff, Vice President at the Africa Development Bank; and Mrs Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Botswana’s Second Ambassador to Germany.
Other scheduled speakers are Mr Philipp Keil, Executive Director, SEZ – Foundation for Development Cooperation, Baden-Württemberg; Engr Ifeanyi F. Ogochuckwu, Chief Technology Strategist, Debbie Mishael Group, South Africa; Taiwo Oyedele, Partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers; Timi Olanrewaju, Founder/Executive Director, Lead Africa International e.V.; Brighton Kaoma, Global Director at UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth; and Kenny Folarin, a strategic leadership expert.
The Forum, which brings together national governments, the international community, civil society, the private sector and other actors, is aligned with Goal 17 of the SDGs which seeks to strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve the targets of the 2030 Agenda.
Another group of participants expected to play an active part in the deliberations during the 3-day conference are representatives of the African diaspora – young professionals, academics and students.
Femi Awoniyi
Register for G-PAD 2021, taking place live in Tübingen and by Zoom on 25-26 November, by clicking HERE
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G-PAD 2021 will be preceded by the Lead Academy 2021, holding on 22-24 November. The three-day virtual event is a capacity development program for Africans and people of African descent. Through the Academy, conversations are initiated with a close group of young, resourceful minds.
