Africa Breakfast Convos returns for fourth edition on the sidelines of UNGA81

African business leaders, investors, and policymakers are gathering this morning at the World Trade Center in New York for the fourth edition of Africa Breakfast Convos (ABC), a high-level dialogue held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Hosted by global communications firm Allison Worldwide in partnership with Nigerian communications powerhouse BHM, this year’s gathering carries the theme “Africa’s Next Chapter: Trade, Partnership, Investment & Global Influence“: a shift from previous editions’ focus on youth and innovation toward capital markets, trade architecture, and Africa’s growing leverage on the global stage.

Ahead of the event, Ayeni Adekunle, CEO of BHM Holdings, framed this year’s conversation as a turning point in how Africa is discussed globally. “Africa is no longer a future opportunity; it’s a present-day growth market,” he said. “This event brings together the entrepreneurs building pan-African businesses, the investors financing them, and the policymakers creating enabling environments. We’re moving beyond potential to explore how Africa’s influence translates into tangible commercial value.”

Claudine Moore, Managing Director for Africa at Allison Worldwide, echoed that sense of continuity building toward momentum. “For the past few years, we have provided a platform during UNGA for leaders from Africa, the U.S. and the global business community to connect around the issues and opportunities shaping the continent’s future,” she said. “As the platform continues to evolve, this year’s focus is on strengthening U.S.–Africa trade, partnership and investment, bringing the right decision-makers into the room and creating connections that can translate into meaningful partnerships and commercial opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Panel One, “The Africa Growth Story: Where Will the Next Decade of Opportunity Come From?”, was moderated by Claudine Moore, Managing Director for Africa at Allison Worldwide; Yasamin Alttahir, Director of Global Marketing, Communications and External Affairs at The King’s Trust International; Hackim Abdul, Director of Citi’s Public Sector Group for Africa; and Otunba (Dr.) Bimbola Ashiru, Chairman of Blackcod Group.

Alttahir pushed back on a common assumption in discussions about Africa’s growth. “One of the things that can be a bit of a fallacy when we talk about young people in Africa is that demography alone is not growth,” she said. “Having a whole bunch of young people is not going to immediately result in growth.” Drawing a comparison to her own region, she pointed to the Middle East as an example of what unlocking that potential could look like. “If that region was to unify a little bit more, there will become more growth and potential for its young people,” she said. “I really, really feel that for Africa.”

A second panel, moderated by journalist and broadcaster Afua Hagan, will bring together Kayode Akintemi of News Central TV and Akunna Cook, founder of Next Narrative Africa, to discuss Africa’s role in technology, media, and finance. The morning closes with a fireside chat between Adekunle and Moore, moderated by Eden Harris of Connecting Africa.

The event arrives as bilateral trade ties between the U.S. and African economies continue to expand, bilateral U.S.–Ghana trade has reached $2.5 billion, while U.S.–Kenya trade now exceeds $1.8 billion, according to figures cited ahead of the forum, reflecting growing commercial links under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Kenya’s economy grew 5.3% over the past year, while Ghana posted a trade surplus of GH¢46.1 billion, regional momentum organizers say this year’s discussions aim to convert into tangible global partnerships.

Panel One is underway. More to follow as the discussion continues.