The Global Shapers Community, a group of dynamic young leaders drawn from business, non-profit, private, and public service sectors. The Global Shapers Community Lagos Hub led by Curator, Ayobami Bamisaiye and Vice Curator, Fatimah Bamisedun hosted SHAPE AFRICA, a first of its kind post-COVID hybrid discourse in an immersive experience to drive dialogue to address issues in Africa. The Hub, initially founded by Osayi Alile, CEO ACT Foundation, celebrated 10 years of impact in Lagos state by a series of local impact projects and the SHAPE event which was held for 2 days on the 10th and 11th of December, 2021.
The event brought together 200 young and brightest professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and experts to discuss the creation of growth opportunities in Africa amongst other dialogues. SHAPE events are regional events created by the Global Shapers Community worldwide to share their knowledge in an immersive experience. Other SHAPEs include MENA,(middle east and north Africa), APAC (Asia Pacific), etc.
Under the theme “Building Communities for Growth”, the two-day event, saw in attendance members of the Global Shapers community in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Calabar Hubs, and African Hubs, virtually. The young and inspiring individuals sought to encourage youth participation in community development and growth, as the pathway to building lasting change, while exploring the rich and multi-cultural history of Lagos City.
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The event kicked off with a welcome address by Abdullahi Alim, World Economic Forum Regional Manager, Global Shapers Community (Africa & Middle East), commending the Lagos Hub members and curatorship on being the most sort after hub and planning the community’s first hybrid SHAPE event, with Nationals in attendance and the rest of the global community, virtually.
Exploring a practical approach to building systems that drive local communities within the continent forward, Keynote Speaker and Executive Director, Fate Foundation, Adenike Adeyemi said, “A clear and simple solution to sustainable growth would be to approach building systems of this nature from an ecosystem model. To create diversified opportunities for the hundreds of millions living and working in Africa backs up the adage that says, “it takes a village to raise a child and support the parent of the child.” When we take an ecosystem approach to building communities for growth, we can rest assured of a better future for all, ”
Delivered in two sessions, the event featured moderated panel discussions geared at identifying opportunities to shape the future.
The first session tagged, “Opportunities in Africa for Africans”, featured panelists like Oscar Michael, Co-Founder, Africa Comicade; Segun Cole, Co-Founder of Fund the Gap Alliance; and Harold Okonoboh, CEO, Recyclan Africa. Moderated by an alumnus of the community, Gloria Okorie, the panelists explored the future of the nation’s standard of living and quality of life in undiluted honest conversations around current challenges and bouncing off ideas to explore possible solutions. The session ended with people feeling supercharged and ready to take action to positively influence the future of Africa.
The Curator of the Global Shapers Community, Lagos Hub, Ayobami Bamisaiye, thanked everyone for the active role played in ensuring the success of the event.
Speaking about the desired impact of the sessions, Vice Curator of the Lagos Global Shapers Hub, Fatimah Bamisedun said, “We have dealt with growing inequality, automation of jobs, and dependence on global markets long before the pandemic. The pandemic only widened these gaps, revealing possibilities we ordinarily wouldn’t have identified and helping us rethink and re-envision how we live and do business.”
