

18th ANNUAL COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Africa Economic Forum
Africa Today & Tomorrow: Accelerating the Growth of an Economic and Cultural Powerhouse
April 22nd - 23rd, 2022

About AEF 2022
We are excited to announce the 18th Africa Economic Forum, a student-led collaboration between Columbia Business School and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs. We look forward to having you join our distinguished speakers and us as we explore the theme — Africa Today & Tomorrow: Accelerating the Growth of an Economic and Cultural Powerhouse.
AEF continues to provide a forum for meaningful engagement and thought-provoking discussions, and this year will be no different. You’ll hear from an impressive lineup of speakers from across the region, and even in these unprecedented times, we expect participants to leave with a renewed sense of hope in Africa’s success and to be inspired to do their part in moving the continent forward.
2021 Co-chairs
Keynote Speakers

Ralph Mupita
President & CEO, MTN Group
Ralph Mupita is the Group President and Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, and formerly served as MTN Group’s CFO. Ralph played a pivotal role in MTN’s listing on the Nigerian and Ghanaian Stock Exchanges. He serves as an executive Board member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Harvard Business School Africa Advisory Board. Ralph holds an MBA and BSc Engineering Hons degree from University of Cape Town and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School General Management Programme.
Edward Effah
Founder & Chairman, Fidelty Bank
Edward has extensive experience in business strategy formulation, calculated risk-taking, strategy execution, team building, mentoring, business innovation, finance, technology strategy, capital raising, investor relations, managing boards, and effective communication with key stakeholders.


Jeffrey D. Sachs
Director, Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University
Prof. Sachs is a world-renowned economics professor, bestselling author, innovative educator, and global leader in sustainable development. He is widely recognized for bold and effective strategies to address complex challenges including the escape from extreme poverty, the global battle against human-induced climate change, international debt and financial crises, national economic reforms, and the control of pandemic and epidemic diseases.

About AEF 2022
We are excited to announce the 18th Africa Economic Forum, a student-led collaboration between Columbia Business School and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs. We look forward to having you join our distinguished speakers and us as we explore the theme — Africa Today & Tomorrow: Accelerating the Growth of an Economic and Cultural Powerhouse.
AEF continues to provide a forum for meaningful engagement and thought-provoking discussions, and this year will be no different. We are particularly excited to be hosting on our brand new Manhattanville campus this spring. This will be the first in-person AEF conference in three years and it’s made all the more special thanks to our state of the art facilities. You’ll hear from an impressive lineup of speakers from across the continent and even in these unprecedented times, we expect participants to leave with a renewed sense of hope in Africa’s success and to be inspired to do their part in moving the continent forward.
2022 Co-chairs
