Is African Agency for sale, for hire or self-renewal? How can Africa shape the UN Summit of the Future?
The African Leadership Centre (ALC) invites you to the King’s Africa Week 2024 opening Keynote and Open Debate titled: “Is African Agency for Sale, for hire or self-renewal? How can Africa shape the UN Summit of the Future?”
Time: 17:30 to 20:00 GMT
Date: 4 March 2024
Venue: Bush House, Central Block 8th Floor, Strand Campus, London
Africa Week 2024 Theme
This year’s Africa Week is occurring at a time of momentous change in the world. As academics and policy makers alike are trying to make sense of unfolding events, global and regional institutions are grappling with the impact of the changing dynamics. At the same time, this period of change offers an opportunity for Africa to reposition itself in the global arena.
At the core of this year’s Africa Week therefore is the question of how Africa is exercising agency in global affairs and where this might lead. It will bring together diplomats, policy practitioners, academics, and students to address questions about current intellectual and diplomatic engagement and policy priorities regarding African agency.
Opening Session
The topic of this opening session is intended to open the door to interrogation of what Africa’s agency is all about outside of the tight prism within which it is currently curtailed. It will also discuss how the opportunity of the UN Summit of the future might be seized to reframe African agency.
The session will be co-hosted by The Kenya High Commission in London and the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London. It will be an open debate among academics, diplomats, and policy practitioners. H.E. Ambassador Manoa Esipisu, High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to the United Kingdom, and Professor ’Funmi Olonisakin, Vice-President International, Engagement and Service at King’s College London will give the opening keynotes. An eminent panel of diplomats, academics and practitioners will respond to the keynotes before the audience joins.
Welcome remarks:
Dr Eka Ikpe
Dr Eka Ikpe is Director and Reader (Development Economics in Africa), African Leadership Centre at King's College London.
Keynote Speakers:
HE Ambassador Manoah Esipisu, EBS
Amb. Manoah Esipisu EBS is the High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kenya to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization.
Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin, FKC
Professor ’Funmi Olonisakin is Vice-President International, Engagement and Service (IES) at King’s College London. She is also Professor of Security, Leadership and Development at the African Leadership Centre in the School of Global Affairs at King’s.
Panelists:
- Dr John Kayode Fayemi - Visiting Professor, African Leadership Centre and immediate former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria.
- Professor Youssef Mahmoud - Visiting Professor, African Leadership Centre, and Leading Practitioner on the Centre's Practice of Leadership programme. He is Senior Adviser at the International Peace Institute (IPI).
- Ms Shuvai Busuman Nyoni - Executive Director of the African Leadership Centre (ALC), Nairobi, Kenya.
- Amb. Macenje Mazoka - H.E The High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to the United Kingdom.
- Amb Linda Scott - H.E The High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the United Kingdom (TBC).
For more on this event and to register, please go here
Participants can register to attend in-person or online. A link to join the online webinar will be emailed to participants upon registering.
