The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) will hold its flagship annual event, the Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW) from April 4-5, 2019, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the organisers say in the latest media advisory.
The IGW brings together a coalition of decision makers from across the continent and beyond, encouraging informed and frank discussion about leadership and public governance in Africa to address the key challenges that the continent needs to tackle in order to deliver its potential.
On Friday, April 5 2019, the annual Ibrahim Leadership Ceremony will celebrate the life and legacy of Kofi Annan, looking forward at ways to pursue his leadership.
On Friday and Saturday, the 2019 Ibrahim Forum will focus on the key topic of African migrations. Migration, whether referring to economic migrants, or refugees and related issues, is currently too often the subject of an emotional or politically-driven debate, especially outside the continent, that overlooks both the real dynamics and the African viewpoint. The Ibrahim Forum will feature an African-led conversation about the challenges and opportunities of migrations from and within the continent, and its key relationship with youth expectations, jobs and mobility.
Confirmed speakers include: Akinwumi Adesina (President of the African Development Bank), Abdourahmane Cissé (Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Petroleum), Aliko Dangote (Owner of Dangote Group), Hailemariam Desalegn (Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia) and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Former President of Liberia) among other speakers.
On Friday 5, the Now Generation Forum (NGF), gathering young people from all over the continent, will see African youth debating these issues, in order for them to lay out their own analysis, expectations and potential solutions. Three NGF representatives will then participate in the Saturday High-level Forum.
Throughout the weekend, friend organisations will hold Africa-focused specific retreats or workshops, such as EU/Africa High-Level Group, the International Crisis Group (IGW), Open Government Partnership (OGP), The Africa Report (TAR) debates, The B-Team, African Philanthropy Forum, Africa 2.0, the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), and the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age.
The IGW will conclude with a public concert at Treichville Palais de la Culture on Sunday, 7 April 2019, open to the public, showcasing some of the best performers of the continent including Serge Beynaud, Safarel Obiang, Youssou N’Dour and Fally Ipupa.