The aim of the 2.0 Connect Series was to bring together young aspiring entrepreneurs with senior, emerging leaders and industry experts to learn and draw inspiration from those leaders and also to be mentored by them.
For the first time in Cote D’Ivoire on Thursday February 2nd 2017 at the Novotel Hotel Abidjan, we gathered top government officials, institutions, large companies, entrepreneurs and young professionals to share experiences and reflections on mentoring as well as the challenges of the West African Agro-industry. Mentorship sessions tagged Inspiring NextGen Series #INGS which are 1-on-1 and group mentorship sessions kickstarted the event followed by sessions tagged Network with the leader series (#NLS) where an influential leader – Jean Claude BROU, Minister of Industries and Mines, Cote D’Ivoire – was the Guest of honor, panel president and gave a 30-minute speech/presentation. There was further a panel discussion on The Future of Agribusiness in Africa with panelists from National Governments, AFDB, Private Sector. Finally, we had a mini Start up Africa Competition with entrepreneurs’ pitching agro solutions for Africa and an interaction by the entrepreneurs with the audience for mentorship, funding and other opportunities!
This event is was powered by OCP Africa and driven by the OCP Africa belief that Africans should have control of the land where life began and the land of the future with the agricultural potential to feed its growing population. This event provided young men and women the opportunity to pitch their ideas on how to feed the world as well as tremendous networking opportunities. These series of events are further based on Africa 2.0’s mentorship philosophy of fostering intergenerational dialogue by getting senior leaders to share experiences and knowledge with the next generation to ultimately uplift emerging leaders. Furthermore, discussions on the future of agribusiness in Africa as well as giving entrepreneurs a platform to pitch new ideas for agribusiness is a means to empower attendees and entrepreneurs with knowledge and information to feed the continent which is in line with the OCP Africa belief that Africans should have the agricultural potential to feed its growing population
The event featured prominent Government officials, OCP Africa representatives, experts in agriculture; founder of Africa 2.0, Mamadou Toure and other highly experienced and successful career and business people (who served as mentors) from the various Africa 2.0 country chapters.