FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2026 ANNOUNCES 24-MEMBER GLOBAL SPEAKER LINEUP FOR HIGH-LEVEL PAN-AFRICAN GATHERING

Hosted by Olanrewaju “Jay” Adewole, the Summit will convene ministers, diplomats, political leaders, entrepreneurs, development professionals and global African voices to advance a new agenda for leadership, investment, institutions and sustainable development.

NEW YORK, NY — August 2026 — The African Coalition for Development (ACD) has announced the full speaker lineup for the African Development Summit 2026, a major Pan-African gathering bringing together leaders from government, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, finance, technology, community development and the African diaspora.

Scheduled for September 18, 2026, the Summit will feature 24 speakers and leaders across four high-impact sessions, combining virtual conversations with an in-person gathering in New York.

The Summit arrives at a critical moment for Africa.

Across the continent, a new generation of entrepreneurs is building companies, young leaders are demanding greater participation in governance, technology is reshaping economies, African institutions are evolving, and the global African diaspora is becoming increasingly important to investment, advocacy and development.

Yet the question remains:

How does Africa turn its enormous potential into sustainable progress?

The African Development Summit 2026 is being built to answer that question.

At the center of the Summit is Olanrewaju “Jay” Adewole, President of the African Coalition for Development and Host of the African Development Summit 2026.

Adewole, an entrepreneur, award-winning business coach, strategist, author and organizational leader, has built his work around helping leaders move from vision to execution.

Through the African Coalition for Development, he is now applying that same philosophy to a broader Pan-African mission — bringing together the people, institutions, ideas and resources capable of helping shape Africa's next chapter.

“Africa does not lack ideas. Africa does not lack talent. Africa does not lack ambition,” said Olanrewaju Jay Adewole. “What we need are stronger connections between leadership and opportunity, between entrepreneurs and capital, between institutions and communities, and between Africans on the continent and Africans around the world. The African Development Summit exists to build those connections.”

Adewole will lead the Summit alongside Gedeon Baleke, Secretary-General of the African Coalition for Development and Co-Host of the Summit, and Mamadou Saliou Diallo, President of GUICA-NY and Co-Host of the African Development Summit.

Together, the Summit leadership is assembling a diverse group of voices around one mission:

to move Africa's development conversation from ideas to action.

SESSION 1

THE AFRICA WE WANT: YOUTH, LEADERSHIP, DIPLOMACY & AFRICAN INSTITUTIONS

Africa is home to the world's youngest population, but the future of the continent will depend on whether young Africans are given meaningful opportunities to participate in leadership, governance and institution building.

The first session will examine how Africa can strengthen leadership, diplomacy, political participation and continental institutions while creating pathways for a new generation of leaders.

Featured Speakers

H.E. Ismaël Nabé
Minister of Planning, International Cooperation and Development, Republic of Guinea

Hon. Paul Cabiet Ayang
Former Minister of ICT, Lakes State, South Sudan

Hon. Damilola Ayinde Marshall
APC Candidate, Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency II
Senior Special Assistant on Tourism to the Governor of Lagos State

Hon. Oluwadare Joseph Faduri
2027 Presidential Candidate, Action Alliance, Nigeria

Mutesi Oliver
Vice President, Pan African Youth Union
African Coalition for Development

Ambassador Akol Dok
Diplomat and Political Analyst

Hon. Rachael Tabitha
National Youth Advocate, Kenya
2027 Senatorial Aspirant, Nairobi County

The session will explore how political institutions can better engage young Africans, how diplomacy can support African interests globally, and how leadership must evolve to meet the expectations of a rapidly changing continent.

SESSION 2

BUILDING AFRICA’S NEXT ECONOMY: ENTERPRISE, CAPITAL, TECHNOLOGY & JOBS

Africa's economic transformation will not be driven by population growth alone.

It will require entrepreneurs who can build scalable companies, investors willing to support African innovation, institutions capable of strengthening businesses, and technology that creates real economic opportunities.

Session Two will focus on one of Africa's most urgent priorities:

Building economies capable of creating jobs, businesses and long-term prosperity.

Featured Speakers

Isaac Bakashaba
Youth Leader
Industry Liaison Officer, Victoria University

Adewale Omitiran
Founder & CEO, Surge Plus Consulting

Dr. Osaretin Agbonavbare
Human-Computer Interaction Specialist
Serial Entrepreneur
Speaker and Author

Esther Chukwujekwu
Business Operations & Strategy Consultant
Founder, Timely Operations

Pamilerin Adegoke
Founder, Kamili Capital

The discussion will explore access to capital, entrepreneurship, technology, business infrastructure, private-sector growth and job creation.

For Adewole, the conversation is especially important because Africa's young population represents both an enormous opportunity and a significant responsibility.

“Young Africans must be able to see entrepreneurship as more than survival,” Adewole said. “We have to build ecosystems where African businesses can start, grow, attract investment, create jobs and compete globally. That means addressing capital, systems, technology and policy together.”

SESSION 3

FROM SDGs TO REAL LIVES: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, FOOD, CLIMATE & SUSTAINABLE AFRICA

Development cannot only be measured by reports, conferences or economic statistics.

It must be visible in people's lives.

It is visible when communities have access to healthcare.

When families have food security.

When young people have opportunity.

When communities can withstand climate disruption.

And when development programs produce lasting local impact.

Session Three will focus on translating global development priorities into practical solutions for African communities.

Featured Speakers

Olivia Tutu
Youth Development Specialist
Founder, Youth On Sustainable Development

Taiwo Omirinde
Founder & CEO, Better You Africa

Dr. Mercy Otieno
CEO & Founder, Mercy and Love Foundation

Temitope Fakayode
Healthcare IT Leader

Sam Mwezezo
Founder, Global Green Initiatives

Timotina Bonsu
Partnerships Coordinator, CorpsAfrica

The conversation will address healthcare, food security, community development, climate resilience, youth engagement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

SESSION 4 — NEW YORK

ONLY AFRICA CAN SAVE AFRICA: LEADERSHIP, CAPITAL, INSTITUTIONS & ACTION

The Summit will culminate in New York with a powerful in-person conversation centered on responsibility, leadership and action.

The session is built around a provocative idea:

Africa's future must ultimately be driven by Africans themselves.

Global partnerships remain important.

Foreign investment remains important.

International institutions remain important.

But sustainable African development must increasingly be shaped by African leadership, African capital, strong African institutions and a globally connected African diaspora.

Featured Speakers and Leaders

Olanrewaju “Jay” Adewole — Host
President, African Coalition for Development
Host, African Development Summit 2026

Gedeon Baleke — Co-Host
Secretary-General, African Coalition for Development
Co-Host, African Development Summit 2026

Mamadou Saliou Diallo — Co-Host
President, GUICA-NY — Guinean Community of America, New York
Co-Host, African Development Summit 2026

Patrick Bagabo Sabineza
Vice President for Public Relations
Global Infrastructure Finance & Development Authority

Babacar J. Diop
Financial Services Professional
Blue Ocean Wealth Solutions

Chaz Kyser
Director of Communications, CorpsAfrica

This final session will challenge leaders to look beyond traditional development models and examine the role of African institutions, African businesses, African capital and diaspora networks in building sustainable progress.

OLANREWAJU JAY ADEWOLE: BUILDING A PLATFORM FOR A NEW AFRICAN CONVERSATION

For Host Olanrewaju Jay Adewole, the African Development Summit represents something larger than a single event.

It is part of a broader effort to build a platform where Africa's emerging leaders, institutions, entrepreneurs and diaspora communities can connect around shared goals.

Adewole's work spans entrepreneurship, organizational strategy, leadership, business systems and economic empowerment.

But the common thread throughout his career has been execution.

He has consistently argued that vision without structure rarely produces sustainable results.

That same philosophy is shaping the African Development Summit.

“We cannot keep having the same conversations about Africa year after year and measuring success by how many people attended the event,” Adewole said. “Success is what happens afterward. Who partnered? Who invested? Who started working together? What problem was solved? What new opportunity was created? That is the standard we are trying to build.”

As President of the African Coalition for Development, Adewole is positioning the organization as a bridge connecting Africans across borders and industries.

The goal is to connect political leadership with entrepreneurship.

Capital with opportunity.

The diaspora with the continent.

Emerging leaders with established institutions.

And ideas with people capable of executing them.

A SUMMIT BUILT AROUND COLLABORATION

The diversity of the 2026 speaker lineup is intentional.

It includes a sitting government minister.

Former government leadership.

Political candidates.

Diplomats.

Youth leaders.

Entrepreneurs.

Finance professionals.

Healthcare and technology leaders.

Environmental advocates.

Nonprofit executives.

Development professionals.

And diaspora leaders.

That diversity reflects ACD's belief that Africa's development cannot be the responsibility of a single sector.

Government cannot do it alone.

Entrepreneurs cannot do it alone.

Civil society cannot do it alone.

The diaspora cannot do it alone.

Africa's next chapter will require all of them.

“The future of Africa will be collaborative,” Adewole said. “The entrepreneur needs the policymaker. The policymaker needs the community leader. The innovator needs capital. The diaspora needs credible institutions on the continent. And our institutions need young people who believe they have a real stake in Africa's future.”

FROM A CONTINENT OF POTENTIAL TO A CONTINENT OF POWER

Africa is increasingly central to global conversations about population, technology, trade, natural resources, food security, climate, infrastructure and economic growth.

The continent possesses enormous human and natural capital.

But potential alone does not create prosperity.

The African Development Summit 2026 will challenge its speakers and participants to think beyond what Africa could become and focus instead on what must be built now.

Stronger businesses.

Stronger institutions.

Better leadership.

Greater access to capital.

More opportunities for young people.

More effective partnerships.

And deeper collaboration between Africa and its global diaspora.

The Summit's message is simple:

Africa's future is not something Africans should wait for. It is something Africans must build.

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2026 — SPEAKER LINEUP

Session 1 — Youth, Leadership, Diplomacy & African Institutions

• H.E. Ismaël Nabé

• Hon. Paul Cabiet Ayang

• Hon. Damilola Ayinde Marshall

• Hon. Oluwadare Joseph Faduri

• Mutesi Oliver

• Ambassador Akol Dok

• Hon. Rachael Tabitha

Session 2 — Enterprise, Capital, Technology & Jobs

• Isaac Bakashaba

• Adewale Omitiran

• Dr. Osaretin Agbonavbare

• Esther Chukwujekwu

• Pamilerin Adegoke

Session 3 — Community Development, Health, Food, Climate & Sustainable Africa

• Olivia Tutu

• Taiwo Omirinde

• Dr. Mercy Otieno

• Temitope Fakayode

• Sam Mwezezo

• Timotina Bonsu

Session 4 — Leadership, Capital, Institutions & Action

• Olanrewaju Jay Adewole

• Gedeon Baleke

• Mamadou Saliou Diallo

• Patrick Bagabo Sabineza

• Babacar J. Diop

• Chaz Kyser

EVENT DETAILS

Event: African Development Summit 2026

Date: September 18, 2026

Format: Three Virtual Sessions + In-Person New York Session

Host: Olanrewaju “Jay” Adewole

Co-Hosts: Gedeon Baleke and Mamadou Saliou Diallo

Organizer: African Coalition for Development

Summit Website:
https://africandev.org/adsummit2026

ABOUT OLANREWAJU “JAY” ADEWOLE

Olanrewaju “Jay” Adewole is an entrepreneur, award-winning business coach, strategist, author, podcast host and President of the African Coalition for Development.

His work focuses on entrepreneurship, leadership, business transformation, organizational systems and economic empowerment.

Through the African Coalition for Development, Adewole is building platforms designed to connect African leaders, entrepreneurs, institutions and diaspora communities around opportunities for collaboration and measurable impact.

As Host of the African Development Summit 2026, he is championing a vision in which Africa's development is driven not only by discussion, but by stronger institutions, stronger partnerships and bold execution.

ABOUT THE AFRICAN COALITION FOR DEVELOPMENT

The African Coalition for Development is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing sustainable African development through leadership, collaboration, entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, advocacy and strategic partnerships.

ACD works to connect Africans on the continent and throughout the diaspora while creating platforms that amplify emerging leaders, strengthen cross-sector relationships and advance practical solutions to Africa's development priorities.

MEDIA, INTERVIEW & PARTNERSHIP INQUIRIES

Journalists, broadcasters, media organizations, corporations, development organizations, diplomatic institutions and strategic partners interested in covering the African Development Summit 2026, interviewing Summit leadership or exploring partnership opportunities are invited to contact the African Coalition for Development.

African Coalition for Development

Media Contact:
[email protected]

Website:
https://africandev.org

Summit Registration & Information:
https://africandev.org/adsummit2026