A Pan-African virtual dialogue themed, “Africa: A Return, Not a Risk,” brought together ONE Champions and Elevate Africa Fellows for a vibrant and insightful exchange ahead of Africa Day 2025. The session, held on May 21, was aimed at reframing Africa’s narrative from one of risk to one of opportunity and returns. The event featured a lightning talk between ONE’s Africa Executive Director, Serah Makka and Elevate Africa’s CEO, Daniel Ikuenobe. We also had a powerful speech delivered by His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, traditional king of the Warri Kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria.
The discussion featured four panelists: Elevate Africa Fellows Vuyelwa Nyakaza and Daniel Chisoni from South Africa and Malawi respectively, and ONE Champions Azeezat Adekanye and Isaac Bezabih from Nigeria and Ethiopia. They underscored the urgency of shifting perceptions of Africa from a continent of risk to one of opportunity and returns, highlighting the role of youth, partnerships, and homegrown solutions. Discussions spanned key themes including strategic partnerships, innovation ecosystems, gender equity, and the value of indigenous governance systems, all aimed at propelling Africa toward a self-determined and prosperous future.
Throughout the dialogue, participants reflected on how young Africans are driving change through entrepreneurship, education reforms, digital innovation, and cross-border collaboration. Emphasis was placed on reclaiming Africa’s narrative, strengthening regional integration, and leveraging African identity and cultural values as strategic assets.
The event also featured the official launch of the Africa Day edition of the ONE Champions newsletter.
The session concluded with a collective call to action: to read the special Africa Day 2025 edition of the ONE Champions newsletter, follow ongoing campaigns via ONE and Elevate Africa platforms, and continue co-creating solutions rooted in African realities. A mentimeter word cloud capturing reflections from participants was also shared, contributing to the collective momentum of celebrating Africa’s resilience, leadership, and return.
You can find the session recording on Youtube or watch below.
