The fourth Annual Conference of the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) was recently held at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Forum provided a platform to explore the role of philanthropists in shaping the continent’s future. It was a great opportunity for promoting collaborations with over 150 philanthropists from Africa and beyond in attendance.

Co-founder, Higherlife Foundation and APF chairperson, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, spoke on the theme, ‘African Philanthropy in a Changing Global Context’, urging philanthropists to be strategic in giving and not wait until retirement before using their resources to change lives.

She added: “We need to take greater responsibility for our problems by creating synergies that enable us solve problems that seem greater than us.”

During the conference, delegates and over 50 inspiring speakers discussed issues ranging from increasing philanthropic impact, changing the African narrative, curbing migration, opportunities in youth unemployment, the role of philanthropists in fostering local giving and homegrown solutions to challenges on the Continent amongst others.

Speakers included: HRH Queen Sylvia (Buganda Kingdom); Bill Campbell, Chairman, The END Fund; HE Toyin Saraki, Founder, Wellbeing Foundation Africa; Rtd. General TY Danjuma, Chairman, TY Danjuma Foundation; Nyokabi Kenyatta, Founder, Kenyatta Foundation; Amb. W.S. Symington, US Ambassador to Nigeria; and Hon. George Werner, Liberian Minister for Education.