The Africa Center Connects Leaders Across Lagos and New York During UN General Assembly Season
September Engagements with the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Young Global Leaders, and Afreximbank Advance Dialogue on African Leadership, Trade, Investment, and Diaspora Partnerships
(NEW YORK, October 7, 2026) —The Africa Center brought together leaders from Africa and its global diaspora through a series of September engagements spanning Lagos and New York. As world leaders gathered for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), The Africa Center at Aliko Dangote Hall served as a meeting place for dialogue on African leadership, trade, investment, and diaspora partnerships.
The month’s activities began with the Africa-Diaspora Leadership Program, organized by the Aliko Dangote Foundation in collaboration with the Forum of Young Global Leaders and The Africa Center. The program comprised a Leadership Learning Journey in Lagos, Nigeria, September 10–12, 2026, followed by a strategic convening at The Africa Center in New York on September 21, 2026.
During the Lagos program, The Africa Center’s leadership joined participants for a visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, exploring the relationship between industrial scale, investment, talent, and Africa’s economic future.
On Saturday, September 19, The Africa Center hosted the Private-Sector Farewell Dinner in Honor of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. Board President Halima Dangote, Campaign Chair Fatima Dangote, and Board Co-Chairs Chelsea Clinton and Jendayi Frazer joined guests in recognizing Mohammed’s leadership and service.
On Monday, September 21, the Africa-Diaspora Leadership Program continued with its strategic convening at The Africa Center, co-sponsored by the Aliko Dangote Foundation and The Africa Center, in collaboration with the Forum of Young Global Leaders. The gathering brought together young leaders and special guests, including Aliko Dangote, Halima Dangote, Fatima Dangote, Jendayi Frazer, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, carrying the dialogue begun in Lagos into UNGA week.
On Wednesday, September 23, The Global Africa Gateway—an initiative of The Africa Center established in partnership with Afreximbank—presented Future Africa Forum 2026.
Board Co-Chair Jendayi Frazer welcomed more than 240 guests for an evening focused on translating political and diplomatic goodwill into tangible trade and investment partnerships between Africa and its 200-million-strong global diaspora. Participants included the Honorable Christopher Peter Sinckler, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Barbados; Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank; Arian Simone, CEO of Fearless Fund and Fearless Fund Africa; Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa League; and 11-year NBA veteran Roger Mason Jr.
The forum featured a presentation by Vance Whitfield, Director of The Global Africa Gateway, highlighting preliminary findings from The Africa Center and Afreximbank’s Diaspora Research Study. The presentation examined the diaspora’s composition, its economic engagement with Africa, and persistent barriers to diaspora trade and investment.
Two panel sessions served as the centerpiece of the evening. The first explored how diaspora capital, expertise, networks, and innovation can contribute to the growth of African sports economies. The second examined how diaspora-owned businesses can strengthen global value and supply chains linking African markets with the wider world.
Together, these engagements connected conversations about Africa’s industrial capacity and emerging leadership with practical opportunities for diaspora participation in trade and investment.
The Africa Center extends special thanks to Zouera Youssoufou and Zakari Momodu of the Aliko Dangote Foundation for their vision, thoughtful programming, and partnership in connecting the Lagos and New York engagements. The Africa Center also thanks the leadership of Afreximbank and the Forum of Young Global Leaders, and all participating speakers, guests, trustees, and staff for helping turn shared ambitions into lasting connections.
About The Africa Center
The Africa Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution committed to the principle that a just and peaceful world begins with a flourishing Africa in deep communion with its Diaspora. Located in New York City, The Africa Center convenes artists, creatives, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to shape artistic expression, narratives, investments, and partnerships critical to the prosperous and secure future of Africa and its Diaspora.
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Media Contact:
Camille Wanliss
Communications & Media Relations Manager
cwanliss@theafricacenter.org