Humanizing the diversity of Africa and highlighting the St. Louis region’s African business and cultural communities are goals of the inaugural Africa Day Virtual Summit May 27-29.
Sponsored by Webster University, the event’s keynote speaker is Lazarus O. Amayo, Kenya’s ambassador to the United States.
“Africa is an incredibly diverse continent that is home to 1.3 billion people who speak more than 15 languages in 54 countries, and yet in the United States, most people believe that anyone with roots from Africa will look, sound and act exactly the same,” said Brian Barlay, an international student at Webster University and co-founder and former president of Missouri Young African Professionals
“(African) cultures have contributed and enhanced so many other regions of the world, right down to St. Louis.”
AD-STL will also focus on improvement of businesses and organizations, and individuals that are leading the effort to provide transformational and unconventional changes while promoting the wellbeing of the African agenda, according to Barlay.
The May 29 sessions, entitled ‘Reaching New Heights’ include several on business aspects including “Creating Sustainable Business Partnerships,” “Cultivating a Silicon Valley for Immigrant Entrepreneurs in St. Louis” and “All Things Money: Lesson Learned.”
“Immigrant owned businesses often do not do as well as generationally owned, family business,” said Fridaouss Nabine, CEO and co-founder of fyrst gen, a collective of first-generation college graduates, professionals and founders “tackling the biggest challenges first gens face.”
“We’re going to discuss how to grow a business, how to get the resources needed to succeed.
“We are also going to focus on empowering our next generation and cultivating our community.”
Other speakers include Webster University Professor Muthoni Musangali, who will discuss COVID-19’s impact on the African immigrant community, along with Barlay and Webster students Igho Ikatitie and Yatina Katunga.
“Celebrating Africa Day-STL is a wonderful way to honor the experiences and contributions of the African community in Saint Louis particularly, and in the United States as a whole,” said Musangali.
Ony Mgbeahurike, Olin Africa Business Club co-founder, said African immigrants “are filled with ingenuity and resilience – key attributes needed to build a thriving business that directly impacts the local economy.”
A model and ecosystem like in Silicon Valley will bolster ongoing efforts made by African Immigrant Entrepreneurs in St Louis and strengthen the economy.”
“We hope that this summit will be an invitation for the St. Louis region to be engaged in the African community as well as for the African community to fully integrate into the St. Louis Ecosystem,” Barlay added.
Ambassador Amayo’s address is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday (May 27). He previously served as a representative in the United Nations, High Commissioner of Kenya to the United Kingdom and as the Republic of Kenya’s representative to several international trade and commerce organizations.
Before entering the diplomatic corps, was the assistant minister in the Republic of Kenya’s Ministry of Education and was an elected member to the Republic of Kenya’s Parliament.
Along with Webster University and fyrst gen, sponsors include Brand of St. Louis; Black Wall Street STL; Washington University Center for Human Rights, Gender and Migration; International Institute of St. Louis, St. Louis Mosaic, transformunity; Vintendo 4 Africa.
Blessing Kuebee has served as chair of the Africa Day STL Virtual Summit and its planning committee includes Philip Sangokoya, BRAND of St. Louis founder; Segun Babalola, St. Louis African Chambers of Commerce founder; Geoffrey Soyiantet, Vitendo4Africa founder; Arrey Benson, president of International Institute of St. Louis; Barlay and Nabine.
To register for the free summit and the three-day schedule, visit Africadaystlouis.Eventbrite.com.