The AfroChampions Initiative, an innovative project designed to promote African private
sector champions, has been officially launched in Bamako, Mali, at an inaugural dinner
sponsored by the Organizing Committee of the Africa-France Summit for Partnership, Peace
and Emergence, advisory firm Konfidants and ADS group. Partners of the initiative have
honoured on that occasion Founder of Ecobank and Asky Airlines Gervais Koffi Djondo. Mr.
Djondo received a special lifetime award for his remarkable contribution to economic
exchanges within the continent.
The dinner was organised under the patronage of President of Mali, His Excellency
Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, represented by Mr. Mohamed Ali Ag Ibrahim, Minister for
Industrial Development. The event was attended by representatives from the African
private sector and international industry players who were welcomed by Mr. Konimba
Sidibe, Minister for Investment Promotion and Private sector in Mali, and Mr. Abdoullah
Coulibaly, President of the Organizing Committee of the Africa-France Summit.
As a founding father of coprorate pan-Africanism, and a champion of Africa, Mr
Djondo's accomplishments remain an inspiring model for entrepreneurs all over the
continent. To help pass his legacy on, Mr. Djondo is also the founding patron of the
Djondo Fellowship, which will mentor the young entrepreneurs and small business to become
AfroChampions. Successes from elders can make young entrepreneurs even more audacious and
creative. We want them to think #39;pan-African#39; from the very beginning of their
entrepreneurial journey, explained Dr Edem Adzogenu, a member of executive committee of
the AfroChampions Organization (http://AfroChampions.com). Only this shift in mentalities
can drive further economic integration in Africa, he added.
To accelerate this process, the AfroChampions Initiative will deploy a set of
strategic projects. These projects include for instance the creation of regional hubs for
cooperation, or codifying standards of quality and excellence across the continent. On
each of these work streams, the objective in order to move as efficiently as possible, is
to bring together public and private decision-makers. It is the private sector that
creates growth and jobs. It is therefore up to policy-makers to encourage entrepreneurs
and enable them to develop their potential, said Founder and CEO of the ADS group Samba
Bathily. What we need is a critical mass of African entrepreneurs, able to create African
multinationals. The wealth they will create will benefit the entire continent, not just
their home countries. This is why we support this project.
The AfroChampions Initiative and its partners Konfidants and ADS group have set
up an ambitious roadmap for 2017, in order to bring onboard both African heads of state
and investment promotion agencies. On the side lines of the African Union Summit in Addis
Ababa end of January 2017 they will notably introduce the AfroChampions Hub project to
support intra-Africa investments.
Source: AfroChampions Initiative.