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On April 12, 2025, ACE Advisory Board Member Marvellous Iheukwumere participated in the 2025 Harvard Africa Development Conference as a moderator of the plenary entitled "Breaking Down Barriers: Harnessing the Power of Sports for Africa's Development". The discussion featured trailblazing women in sports: Caster Semenya, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist & 3x World Champion Athlete, Benny Bonsu, Chief Content Officer of the Olympic Channel, and Abi Ijasanmi, Founder/CEO, African Sports Investor. The conversation focused on how sports can be a transformative tool for youth empowerment, economic growth, and gender equality, positioning Africa's you that the forefront of global sports development.
ACE Advisory Board Member Daniel Oyolu also moderated a panel on Africa’s cultural economy—spanning film, media, and entertainment. The session featured Grammy-nominated artist Jidenna, Grammy-nominated artist Vic Mensa, Ghanaian rap legend M.anifest, Melissa Adeyemo (Ominira Studios), and Mayowa Idowu (Culture Custodian). Together, they explored how African creators can build sustainable global careers while maintaining ownership, as well as how film, journalism, and music shape global perceptions of Africa and influence investment, tourism, and economic opportunity.
The theme of the conference was Africa by 2040: The Future of Africa's Youth, with conversations focused on how innovation, strategic investments, and international collaboration can empower Africa’s growing youth population.
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