Rome, 6 March 2026 – Three days of dialogue, dozens of diverse voices, and a common thread: telling the story of Africa as it truly is. The final day brought institutions and SMEs into conversation with universities and young leaders, training organizations and the diaspora, and each intervention became, in its own way, an act of resistance against the simplistic narratives that often dominate Italian media. The data, stories and experiences shared in the room portrayed a continent in motion, ready to welcome new ideas and opportunities.
The morning plenary session was opened by Martin Arevalo, Country Director Italy of UNOPS, and Oroh Roland Oletu, Director of the Agribusiness EU–Nigeria Platform. From the very first remarks, the tone was clear: no more episodic cooperation, no more assistance-based approaches. “The scale of transformation in Africa is extraordinary,” said Arevalo, referring to urbanization, climate change and digital expansion as forces unfolding simultaneously, reinforcing and multiplying one another.
The first conference, moderated by Carlos Lougourou, Sustainability Advisor at Assoholding, focused on research and vocational training. Pietro Sebastiani, founder of the LUMSA University Africa Center, emphasized the need to create joint educational pathways and exchange programs capable of keeping pace with the demographic and economic transformations of a young and rapidly evolving continent. Cinzia Corsetti of AICP brought a different perspective, that of coaching: authentic leadership emerges when one has the courage to implement projects that truly reflect who they are.
This panel also included contributions from Aristide Aly Boyarm, IT Strategy Consultant and founder of DEVCHAMPION; Rosario Vigliotti, Associate at the Gran Sasso Tech Foundation; Andrea Carapellese, International Expert on Investment at UNIDO ITPO; Carla Pampaloni of Federmanager; Andrea Cinque, Economist at the OECD Development Centre; Ablam Gerard Agoudou, Engineer and Technical Infrastructure Manager at Volo Air Side.
The reflection extended further, exploring new development trajectories in African markets. The opening session, moderated by Ada Ugo Abara (CEO of D-Tech 4Good), highlighted the complexity and potential of contemporary Africa. Yannick Deza, founder of Data Bites, based between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, explained how his platform uses data and graphic design to make the distinctive features of the 54 African countries more accessible to a global audience, noting that “true knowledge resides in people’s minds.” Even if the continent’s economic informality remains difficult to capture with traditional tools, he stressed, innovative thinking must continue.
Joining from Nigeria, Nwanne Nwonwu of Rising Tide Africa presented examples from a women’s training program, emphasizing experiential learning as a lever for financial empowerment. Gideon Brefo of HapaSpace illustrated efforts to connect innovation ecosystems, startups and diplomatic institutions.
Then came an unexpected perspective from jurist Ian Elly Ssali Kiggundu, who opened a discussion on African space law. From the South African Space Agency to the Rwanda Space Agency, and from Egypt to Ethiopia, the continent is learning to look upward. “Africans also look at the sky and want to be part of it,” Kiggundu said. Space, security and technological sovereignty are becoming increasingly intertwined.
Fashion and Design: Made in Italy meets African creativity
The roundtable on fashion revealed something export statistics often fail to capture: the beauty of a meeting between visions. Nigerian designer Ugo Monye called for structure, methodology and institutional importance for African fashion. Roberto Corbelli responded with a concrete example: forty manufacturing businesses in Lagos working with Italian methods and quality, representing a young, international entrepreneurial class that is at once “humanist and artisanal.”
Vasco Rocha, CEO of Mozambique Fashion Week, outlined a supply chain that is also a story—from cotton grown in the soil to the runway. From the institutional side, Claudio Pasqualucci of ICE and Alessandra Rainaldi of the Italian Trade Agency repeatedly mentioned the Italian Smart Living project—high-quality Italian design and furniture being introduced in Rwanda and neighbouring countries, with five events already scheduled for 2026.
Participants in the roundtable also included Yusra Reja of Yusra Homes, importer of interior design products and interior designer in Ethiopia, and Giuseppe Pancione, CEO of Luxury Windows Italia.
Foundations, NGOs and Civil Society: Pillars of Inclusive Italy–Africa Partnerships for Development
The panel on foundations, NGOs and civil society, facilitated by Bertrand Honore Mani Ndongbou, did something that official diplomacy often struggles to achieve: it spoke candidly. Mario Giro of the Community of Sant’Egidio invited participants to consider Africa with the same perspective once applied to Asia, thinking in terms of long-term industrialization models. Sandro De Luca of LINK 2007 discussed Italy as a destination country for migration and the difficult balance between the dreams of those arriving in Italy and the real opportunities available. Maddalena Procopio of ECFR pointed out a theme that surfaced in several panels: Italian television portrays Africa almost exclusively through conflict, leaving its entrepreneurship, cultures and vitality largely in the shadows.
Essa Eskander, President of the Federation of Egyptian Workers in Italy, recalled that the organization was founded in the 1990s to protect workers’ rights and facilitate family reunification for the Egyptian diaspora.
The conference on energy, moderated by Matteo Spagnolo (CEO of Rinnovabili), focused on the challenges of Africa’s energy transition between regulatory compliance, technology transfer and international standards. Ester Stefanelli (ENI) presented the perspective of a global energy operator, while Rima Jreich of Res4Africa stressed the urgency of recognizing women as entrepreneurs of green solutions, highlighting persistent gaps in education and infrastructure.
Cristina Altomare of the UNDP Rome Centre illustrated several initiatives, including Energy for Growth in Africa, proposed by the Italian government to accelerate climate financing. Valentina Gentile (ENEA) highlighted synergies with Horizon Europe and, like several other speakers, encouraged the idea of a future “Erasmus Africa” project. Mario Di Giulio (Università Campus Bio-Medico) reminded participants that new regulations can become opportunities when properly communicated and interpreted.
During the Business Community Roundtable, Diop Aminata, Vice President of the We First Association, introduced entrepreneurs from Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, who shared concrete experiences of Italy–Africa partnerships: agricultural cooperatives, vocational schools and agro-food exports. Kane Papa Malick, President of the We First Association, expressed pride in the African diaspora and in IABW’s initiative. Edoardo De Vito (Delta Holdings) once again highlighted the central role of SMEs—“60–70% of the Italian productive fabric”—as actors capable of shaping territories and building communities. The final message was unanimous: the African diaspora in Italy is not only a bridge between countries, but also between generations and economic systems.
The enthusiasm of moderator Francis Kaduki of IABW kept the audience engaged until the very end with a call to genuinely involve younger generations. Five speakers addressed the themes of cultural and social integration and the crucial issue of identity recognition. Ange Rosine Ishimwe described how the Africa Connect Initiative, founded in 2024, aims to go beyond generational boundaries. Together with Angelique Umutoni, she presented programs focused on language integration, bureaucratic support and cultural identity for Afro-descendants in Italy, addressing a direct appeal to businesses: “Do not turn your backs on young people.”
Roxani Roushas of UNDP shared stories from Youth4Climate—from women running electric tuk-tuks in Liberia to the production of indigenous textiles—31,000 active members worldwide proving that change does not wait for permission. Giuseppe Bennici added the practical perspective of someone who has learned to read challenges constructively: “Where there are difficulties, there are also opportunities.”
A particularly inspiring contribution came from Carlos Lougourou: “We are all agents of change, as long as we believe in a world built on collaboration and innovation. The future is today.”
Bringing the three days of discussions to a close was Mehret Tewolde Weldemicael, CEO of IABW, with a speech that combined vision and pragmatism. She spoke about exchange between continents and generations, about the unique role of the African diaspora—not only as a bridge between Italy and Africa, but also between African countries themselves—and about the satisfaction of finally bringing Italian and African financial institutions, both public and private, to the same table.
Delegations arriving from Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya—despite the significant travel difficulties of recent days—demonstrated that the network exists and that the interest is mutual.
But the most heartfelt moment came when she addressed the dignity of being Afro-Italian: an identity to embrace with pride, not to justify. She emphasized young people as protagonists of the present—not of some distant, abstract future—in the co-creation of authentically human progress. The road to change, Tewolde Weldemicael concluded, has already begun. This week has been, in every respect, an important demonstration of that.
Overall, March 6 was not a day of conclusions, but of beginnings. Inside and outside the conference meeting spaces, participants exchanged ideas and discussed projects that have the potential to become concrete collaborations. Education, energy, fashion, space, culture and diaspora are not separate fields but parts of the same mosaic that, thanks to the careful direction of Italy Africa Business Week, grows more interconnected and expansive with every edition.
The morning plenary session was opened by Martin Arevalo, Country Director Italy of UNOPS, and Oroh Roland Oletu, Director of the Agribusiness EU–Nigeria Platform. From the very first remarks, the tone was clear: no more episodic cooperation, no more assistance-based approaches. “The scale of transformation in Africa is extraordinary,” said Arevalo, referring to urbanization, climate change and digital expansion as forces unfolding simultaneously, reinforcing and multiplying one another.
The first conference, moderated by Carlos Lougourou, Sustainability Advisor at Assoholding, focused on research and vocational training. Pietro Sebastiani, founder of the LUMSA University Africa Center, emphasized the need to create joint educational pathways and exchange programs capable of keeping pace with the demographic and economic transformations of a young and rapidly evolving continent. Cinzia Corsetti of AICP brought a different perspective, that of coaching: authentic leadership emerges when one has the courage to implement projects that truly reflect who they are.
This panel also included contributions from Aristide Aly Boyarm, IT Strategy Consultant and founder of DEVCHAMPION; Rosario Vigliotti, Associate at the Gran Sasso Tech Foundation; Andrea Carapellese, International Expert on Investment at UNIDO ITPO; Carla Pampaloni of Federmanager; Andrea Cinque, Economist at the OECD Development Centre; Ablam Gerard Agoudou, Engineer and Technical Infrastructure Manager at Volo Air Side.
From Microenterprise to Space: the right to look at the stars
The reflection extended further, exploring new development trajectories in African markets. The opening session, moderated by Ada Ugo Abara (CEO of D-Tech 4Good), highlighted the complexity and potential of contemporary Africa. Yannick Deza, founder of Data Bites, based between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, explained how his platform uses data and graphic design to make the distinctive features of the 54 African countries more accessible to a global audience, noting that “true knowledge resides in people’s minds.” Even if the continent’s economic informality remains difficult to capture with traditional tools, he stressed, innovative thinking must continue.
Joining from Nigeria, Nwanne Nwonwu of Rising Tide Africa presented examples from a women’s training program, emphasizing experiential learning as a lever for financial empowerment. Gideon Brefo of HapaSpace illustrated efforts to connect innovation ecosystems, startups and diplomatic institutions.
Then came an unexpected perspective from jurist Ian Elly Ssali Kiggundu, who opened a discussion on African space law. From the South African Space Agency to the Rwanda Space Agency, and from Egypt to Ethiopia, the continent is learning to look upward. “Africans also look at the sky and want to be part of it,” Kiggundu said. Space, security and technological sovereignty are becoming increasingly intertwined.
Fashion and Design: Made in Italy meets African creativity
The roundtable on fashion revealed something export statistics often fail to capture: the beauty of a meeting between visions. Nigerian designer Ugo Monye called for structure, methodology and institutional importance for African fashion. Roberto Corbelli responded with a concrete example: forty manufacturing businesses in Lagos working with Italian methods and quality, representing a young, international entrepreneurial class that is at once “humanist and artisanal.”
Vasco Rocha, CEO of Mozambique Fashion Week, outlined a supply chain that is also a story—from cotton grown in the soil to the runway. From the institutional side, Claudio Pasqualucci of ICE and Alessandra Rainaldi of the Italian Trade Agency repeatedly mentioned the Italian Smart Living project—high-quality Italian design and furniture being introduced in Rwanda and neighbouring countries, with five events already scheduled for 2026.
Participants in the roundtable also included Yusra Reja of Yusra Homes, importer of interior design products and interior designer in Ethiopia, and Giuseppe Pancione, CEO of Luxury Windows Italia.
Foundations, NGOs and Civil Society: Pillars of Inclusive Italy–Africa Partnerships for Development
The panel on foundations, NGOs and civil society, facilitated by Bertrand Honore Mani Ndongbou, did something that official diplomacy often struggles to achieve: it spoke candidly. Mario Giro of the Community of Sant’Egidio invited participants to consider Africa with the same perspective once applied to Asia, thinking in terms of long-term industrialization models. Sandro De Luca of LINK 2007 discussed Italy as a destination country for migration and the difficult balance between the dreams of those arriving in Italy and the real opportunities available. Maddalena Procopio of ECFR pointed out a theme that surfaced in several panels: Italian television portrays Africa almost exclusively through conflict, leaving its entrepreneurship, cultures and vitality largely in the shadows.
Essa Eskander, President of the Federation of Egyptian Workers in Italy, recalled that the organization was founded in the 1990s to protect workers’ rights and facilitate family reunification for the Egyptian diaspora.
Energy, Innovation and Agriculture at the heart of the sustainable transition
The conference on energy, moderated by Matteo Spagnolo (CEO of Rinnovabili), focused on the challenges of Africa’s energy transition between regulatory compliance, technology transfer and international standards. Ester Stefanelli (ENI) presented the perspective of a global energy operator, while Rima Jreich of Res4Africa stressed the urgency of recognizing women as entrepreneurs of green solutions, highlighting persistent gaps in education and infrastructure.
Cristina Altomare of the UNDP Rome Centre illustrated several initiatives, including Energy for Growth in Africa, proposed by the Italian government to accelerate climate financing. Valentina Gentile (ENEA) highlighted synergies with Horizon Europe and, like several other speakers, encouraged the idea of a future “Erasmus Africa” project. Mario Di Giulio (Università Campus Bio-Medico) reminded participants that new regulations can become opportunities when properly communicated and interpreted.
A space for dialogue between businesses, speakers and young leaders to strengthen the IABW Community
During the Business Community Roundtable, Diop Aminata, Vice President of the We First Association, introduced entrepreneurs from Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, who shared concrete experiences of Italy–Africa partnerships: agricultural cooperatives, vocational schools and agro-food exports. Kane Papa Malick, President of the We First Association, expressed pride in the African diaspora and in IABW’s initiative. Edoardo De Vito (Delta Holdings) once again highlighted the central role of SMEs—“60–70% of the Italian productive fabric”—as actors capable of shaping territories and building communities. The final message was unanimous: the African diaspora in Italy is not only a bridge between countries, but also between generations and economic systems.
Youth building bridges between generations and peoples
The enthusiasm of moderator Francis Kaduki of IABW kept the audience engaged until the very end with a call to genuinely involve younger generations. Five speakers addressed the themes of cultural and social integration and the crucial issue of identity recognition. Ange Rosine Ishimwe described how the Africa Connect Initiative, founded in 2024, aims to go beyond generational boundaries. Together with Angelique Umutoni, she presented programs focused on language integration, bureaucratic support and cultural identity for Afro-descendants in Italy, addressing a direct appeal to businesses: “Do not turn your backs on young people.”
Roxani Roushas of UNDP shared stories from Youth4Climate—from women running electric tuk-tuks in Liberia to the production of indigenous textiles—31,000 active members worldwide proving that change does not wait for permission. Giuseppe Bennici added the practical perspective of someone who has learned to read challenges constructively: “Where there are difficulties, there are also opportunities.”
A particularly inspiring contribution came from Carlos Lougourou: “We are all agents of change, as long as we believe in a world built on collaboration and innovation. The future is today.”
Closing the Conference
Bringing the three days of discussions to a close was Mehret Tewolde Weldemicael, CEO of IABW, with a speech that combined vision and pragmatism. She spoke about exchange between continents and generations, about the unique role of the African diaspora—not only as a bridge between Italy and Africa, but also between African countries themselves—and about the satisfaction of finally bringing Italian and African financial institutions, both public and private, to the same table.
Delegations arriving from Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya—despite the significant travel difficulties of recent days—demonstrated that the network exists and that the interest is mutual.
But the most heartfelt moment came when she addressed the dignity of being Afro-Italian: an identity to embrace with pride, not to justify. She emphasized young people as protagonists of the present—not of some distant, abstract future—in the co-creation of authentically human progress. The road to change, Tewolde Weldemicael concluded, has already begun. This week has been, in every respect, an important demonstration of that.
Overall, March 6 was not a day of conclusions, but of beginnings. Inside and outside the conference meeting spaces, participants exchanged ideas and discussed projects that have the potential to become concrete collaborations. Education, energy, fashion, space, culture and diaspora are not separate fields but parts of the same mosaic that, thanks to the careful direction of Italy Africa Business Week, grows more interconnected and expansive with every edition.
