How PMI’s 6th Africa Conference will provide learning and networking opportunities for Africans
Project Management Institute’s (PMI) the organisers of Africa Conference has said the 2021 edition of the conference will provide learning and networking opportunities for ‘Africans to learn from Africans’.
Project Management Institute is the world’s leading not-for-profit professional membership association for the project, programme and portfolio management profession.
Now in its sixth year, the theme of this year’s virtual conference – ‘Africa: An Ecosystem of Changemakers’ – could, therefore, not be more relevant, George Asamani, Business Development Lead for PMI Sub-Saharan Africa, said in a statement.
Changemakers are the many people who need project-based skills and insights to get work done, tackle their challenges, secure career opportunities and realise their ambitions to improve livelihoods.
As a virtual event, this year’s Africa Conference on September 4, 2021, would provide an incredible opportunity for learning and professional development open to every African from across the continent and globally. The sessions will be offered in English and French.
Delegates at the conference will hear perspectives from thought leaders and practitioners on opportunities across the continent and the skills that will continue growing in demand for project professionals. For instance, findings from PMI’s 2021 Talent Gap Report has revealed that the global economy needs 25 million new project professionals by 2030 to help organisations turn their biggest ideas into reality. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the potential for economic expansion in the long term is encouraging. And the projected rate of PMOE (Project Management-Oriented Employment) opportunities ramping up at 40% growth from 2019 to 2030 – the largest globally.
Africa Conference will be a platform that empowers organisational leaders and professionals to create change. The conference is designed to acknowledge and further Africa’s project professionals and changemakers to the continent’s development. Driving the interest of attendees will be the renewed focus on the continent’s development opportunities and infrastructure.
“Building on the success of last year’s conference which attracted more than 2,000 delegates, this year’s virtual conference is expected to attract more changemakers and project professionals than ever,” Asamani said. “The population of Africa has grown rapidly over the past century, making it the second most populated continent, with around 1.37bn people and a growth rate of more than 2.5% per year. This makes the continent fertile ground for new projects and investments.”
He added that the conference will provide hands-on, practical information and insights from keynote and session speakers selected for their expertise and passion.
Included in the programme will be Desmond Ovbiagele, award-winning Nigerian film director and producer of The Milkmaid Movie, who will share insights on leading projects in the world of cinema.
Renowned professor and organisational theorist Eddie Obeng will conclude the conference with a closing address on ‘Leading together to Successful Change’, highlighting how practitioners can harness the opportunities of our changing, complex, and ambiguous world through interdependent innovation and project delivery.
Asamani said “we also recognise that Africa’s young population will inevitably reshape the world of project management. For this reason, we have included a dedicated track focusing on youth enablement.”
One of the speakers for the youth track will be Aya Chebbi, the first African Union Youth Envoy, who will speak on Intergenerational Co-Leadership for Africa’s transformation.
Participation in the conference will open opportunities for delegates to learn about the latest best practices, the challenges facing professionals and strategies being put in place to meet Africa’s demanding environment. Networking opportunities and the chance to interact with speakers will add significant value for delegates attending this year’s virtual conference.
With the continent emerging slowly from the shadow of a global pandemic, it’s time to raise greater awareness about the project management profession. The skills and knowledge that can be brought to bear to transform organisations and help them exceed customer expectations have never been more important than now. Africa is one of the youngest, fastest-growing regions globally, holding enormous opportunities for project professionals and changemakers.
By attending the 2021 Virtual Africa Conference, delegates will benefit from a 50% discount on their PMI membership.
Delegates who want to learn more about the PMI Virtual Africa Conference 2021 and how to register can visit: www.pmiafricaconference.com or reach out to [email protected].
