Detailed Program: Africa Accelerating 2026

10:00

Member Bilaterals and B2B Meetings

17:15 - 19:30

Opening Reception for Africa Accelerating 2025

High-Level Remarks: Paula Caldwell St-Onge (Retired Ambassador) Chair of the Board of Directors, The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business 

Government of Canada

8:00

Arrival & Registration

8:45

Opening Ceremony, including invited official Ministerial addresses from the Governments of Canada and African VIP Leaders

Official Welcome:

9:30

Keynote Address: 

10:00

Session 1: 

11:00

Tea/Coffee Break

11:30

Session 2 - Panel: Sustainable Growth Initiatives

In conversation with university leaders focused accelerating job creation and entrepreneurship - across the African continent and in Canada.

Prof. Yolande Chan Dean of the Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University

Prof. Carola Weil, Dean of Continuing Studies, McGill University;

Dianne Dusaidi, Lead, Entrepreneurship, Transitions at the Mastercard Foundation, leading the Foundation's Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) Program).

Liz Thomas, Assistant Vice-President at Aon; Alumna of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill University Desautels BCom, Class of 2021 and former Canada-Africa Chamber intern with the McGill Mastercard Foundation Transitions Project

Closing: Toye Abioye, Business Developments and Partnerships, The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business 

12:35

Luncheon - Leadership Remarks by Victoria Tshitende

13:15

Session 3 - Panel : Canada’s Africa Strategy: The Role of Chamber Members and Supporting Institutions 

Following the launch of the Africa Strategy, key players will share their response to the call for deeper engagement with the continent, since the launch in March this year. 

Susan Namulindwa, Executive Director, Africa Trade Desk 

Wendy Harris, President & CEO, Catalyste+ 

Steve Tipman, Executive Director, Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada

14:00

Session 4: African Events Program 

Ontario's Private Sector Program of Action for Canadian Trade & Investment with Fawzia Sheikh, Senior International Market Consultant -- India, GCC & Africa, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation & Trade

Panel: The Canada-Africa Business Conference Series: Ongoing Opportunities 

Ahead of our program in South Africa and the Canada-Africa Business Conference in Zambia we assess key successes and insights from past programs - including most recently in Zimbabwe and Kenya - to best prepare members for the upcoming trade missions in September and beyond.

Including: Sean Clancy, Principal at SalesRockIT, Jacques NdoutouMvé, Founder and CEO, EL Consulting  

14:35

14:50

Session 5: Nigeria Trade and Investment   

Presentation: Patience Abah, Director General, Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency, Nigeria - Access Partnership Opportunities 

With a view to a 2026 program in Lagos, we are delighted to welcome this year's delegation, in partnership with the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.

Remarks: Jubril Arogundade, Executive Director, CIG Motors Group

Session Moderator: Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of Canada in Nigeria

Participants:    
Dr Obinna Iyiegbu (Aka Obi Cubana), Chief Executive Office, Cubana Group
Chief Ekomieyefa Uduboh, Chief Executive Officer, KFT Group
Joseph Ezeokafor Kr (aka Jowi Zaza), Managing Director, Jezco Oil Nigeria
Ibrahim Mustapha Ado, Managing Director, Ammasco International
Godfrey Tare Pondi, Managing Director, Xina Agro

15:30

Break

15:45

Think Tank Roundtable   

On the occasion of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) we will be reflecting on cinematic works that have changed narratives on trade and investment in

African markets - including those acclaimed at TIFF, during screenings in which we've participated with industry leaders. 

Ahaji Adedayo Thomas, Chairman of the Foundation for Economic Initiative and Development 

Dr. Nii Addy, Associate Professor at McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies (SCS) 

16:45

End of Program