Diversity & inclusion must go beyond superficial gestures to the heart of institutions, say African Business leaders at ASP Summit 2025
The fourth annual Africa Soft Power Summit took place in Nairobi, Kenya from May 21st – 25th, bringing together public and private sector leaders from across the worlds of finance, technology, creativity and more. Themed 'Africa's Growth Engine: Aligning the Flow of Money, Innovation, and Global Opportunities', the summit centred around two main conferences:
At the former, key participants made their thoughts clear on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), with a particular focus on the need to embed gender equity into the heart of institutional and economic structures.
In her keynote address, Hon. Naisula Lesuuda, Member of Parliament, Samburu West, Kenya, cautioned against engaging in performative actions, which carry the risk of contributing towards 'inclusion fatigue'. Real change she said, needs to be more profound and systematic, beginning with the very language we use to think about leadership and society:
'Beyond existing laws and policies, what are some of the cultural things we need to change in our spaces to give women more room to work and thrive? One of them, which we can all change in our organisations, is something as simple as language. In Parliament, we had to push to change our standing orders from 'chairman' of committees to 'chairperson' – because in their minds, 'chairman' automatically meant a man. As a result, all the committees, especially the powerful ones, were headed by men. So even just the language that we use in our spaces sets a mindset and a stereotype.'
Dr Nkiru Balonwu, founder of the Africa Soft Power Group and lead convener on its flagship summit, said that Africans need to define their own DEI frameworks, authentic to the continent's diverse contexts, and emphasised the ability of African soft power to have a wider impact on the global stage:
'We can actually design the DEI framework that we want for people to follow, as opposed to always following the Western norm. Africa's creative and tech sectors have already proven themselves to be a powerful engine for growth, on both an economic and societal level. African soft power can be a hugely influential force in driving positive change.'
Creative & Innovative Industries Conference
Africa's ability to influence positive change on a global level was a concept that also ran throughout the Creative and Innovative Industries Conference, taking place on the second day of the proceedings. In an agenda packed full of cutting-edge themes around AI, finance tech, creative & corporate funding, and the need to balance growth and stability… infrastructure – in all its forms – emerged as a key focal point.
Philip Ikeazor, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), indicated that regulators are working to support the growth of digital finance, while constantly developing baseline standards that incorporate the latest technologies. 'Infrastructure is what connects capital to innovation, he said. 'Safety and security are paramount - not just from the business side, but from a systemic point of view.'
Aliya Shariff, Senior Director for Africa Catalytic Impact Fund, Mastercard Foundation, highlighted that while much of our conceptualisation of infrastructure often leans towards hardware (roads, buildings, energy, etc.) we must not forget that software is the lifeblood of today's digital world, as well as the human communication that surrounds it:
'We need to think more about 'soft infrastructure in terms of regulatory clarity, data protection laws, and system interoperability.' This also extends to issues surrounding access, digital inclusion, and more level playing fields, explained Sharrif, stating: 'Our businesses aren't inferior, they're just more expensive to operate. Inclusion isn't just access; it's affordability and usability. Even though Africa is leapfrogging into mobile finance, the continent still struggles with smartphone affordability, energy availability, and device taxation policies.'
Leading by example
The summit at large provided a range of high-level perspectives on some of the key issues of the day. There was consideration of the continent's role in the advancement of AI, with input from Google Research Africa's Lorna Omondi and Kojo Boakye - VP of Public Policy, Africa, Middle East and Türkiye, Meta, while Africa's sports and entertainment sectors were presented as underleveraged growth assets.
Chi Ogbuehi, VP of Marketing Technology & Consumer Products, National Football League (NFL), discussed initiatives like the NFL's International Player Pathway, aimed at cultivating talent directly within Africa, noting the shift towards investing in local development ecosystems. Investment in these sectors, as noted by Julio De Souza, Vice President, Venture Capital and Impact Finance, StratLink, requires building "investable, local, and foreigner" opportunities, and leveraging the intersection with technology and other entertainment forms for monetization and fan engagement.
Overall, the 2025 Africa Soft Power Summit outlined a clear direction: that Africa's growth is an ongoing reality, driven by the ingenuity of its populace, the dynamism of its creative and technological sectors, and the increasing influence of its women leaders.
The primary call from business leaders attending the summit was to turn such energy and insights into tangible results on the ground, on both an economic and societal level.
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