The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) will host the fourth edition of its flagship forum, Unstoppable Africa 2025, on September 21–22 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.
The Kenyan Wall Street team will be on the ground in New York this September as a media partner for the event, covering Unstoppable Africa alongside other UNGA side events.
Hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the forum has become the leading African business platform outside the continent. This year’s theme, “The BIG Push: Africa Shapes the Markets”, underscores Africa’s opportunity to lead amid global shifts in trade, supply chains, and alliances.
“Unstoppable Africa is about empowering Africa to define its own future and shape the markets of tomorrow,” said Sanda Ojiambo, UN Assistant Secretary-General & CEO of the UN Global Compact.
The event will be emceed by CNN’s Larry Madowo and Al Jazeera’s Folly Bah Thibault, and will feature top African and global leaders from business, government, and the creative industries, including:
- •Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom
- •Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO South Africa, Naspers
- •Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, African Finance Corporation
- •Dr. George Elombi, Incoming President, Afreximbank
- •Tshepo Mahloele, Chairman, Harith General Partners
- •Veronica Bolton Smith, CEO, Critical Minerals Africa Group
- •Luol Deng, former NBA All-Star & investor
- •Silas Adekunle, robotics engineer & entrepreneur
- •Amina J Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
- •Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary, UNECA
- •Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO, NEPAD
- •Marcus Samuelsson, Chef & Author
- •Elaine Mukheli, singer-songwriter
- •Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown
- •Omoyemi Akelere, CEO, Lagos Fashion Week
Key topics will include critical minerals and value chains, financing SMEs and infrastructure, AfCFTA in action, digital transformation, and the creative economy.
“By convening leaders across sectors, we want to show the world that Africa is not just keeping pace but driving innovation,” said Claver Gatete, UNECA.
While the New York forum is invite-only, virtual participation is open via Unstoppable Africa Virtual.
