By Chris Onuoha

Oil magnet and founder of Belemaoil Producing Ltd, Dr. Tein T. S. Jack-Rich has emerged as the Chairman of the Advisory Council of African Entrepreneurs And Investors Roundtable – AFEIR.

In a press release signed by the Executive Director, Admin and Programmes, Kingsley Dakorubo, he  stated that ‘AFEIR 2023’ with the theme: “Enhancing Entrepreneurial Development and Investment Opportunities in Africa” is slated to hold on November 30.

Other members of the constituted Council include Mr John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu the Special Adviser to the President on Industry Trade and Investment; Papa Yusupha Njie, lChief Executive Officer of Unique Group and the Chairman of the Board Access Bank Gambia; Nancy Mulemwa Siisii, Financial Center Manager for Bank of America and Dr. Tonye Rex Idaminabo who is currently the Executive Director African Achievers Awards.

Dakorubo who is also VARDIAFRICA boss in the statement noted, “The African Entrepreneurs and Investors Roundtable-AFEIR is an annual event designed to promote business growth in diverse sectors including; oil and gas, renewable energy, ICT, banking and finance, agriculture, manufacturing, aviation, telecommunication, housing, tourism, sports, fashion, maritime, banking, transportation and more. 

“The programme is designed with strategy sessions and panel discussions on critical issues that will boost entrepreneurship and investment in Africa with products exhibitions by Entrepreneurs/Investors,” state Dakorubo.

Furthermore, he disclosed that the event seeks to facilitate the exploration of the vast potentials in the African market as Stakeholders including start-ups, serial entrepreneurs, prospective investors, corporate organizations, policy makers as well as government representatives would come together to discuss and deliberate on the latest trends and opportunities in the African market as well as ways and avenues to bridge the gap between the Investors and the target market.

He also noted that Africans are known to have a strong entrepreneurial drive as evidenced in the rapid growth of new businesses in the region, stating that there are challenges that are peculiar to this trend.

According to him, “the major prospects and benefits of the AFEIR include but not limited, investors and entrepreneurs would have the opportunity to interact with policy makers, industry players and prospective customers to promote their individual/corporate goals; It would create a platform for showcasing your businesses to a wider audience.”

Others according to him, include investors, entrepreneurs and stakeholders would be able to discuss with Government representatives and policy makers on how to influence and formulate favourable business policies to continually promote and drive investment growth in Africa, while technical knowledge and skills would be disseminated to empower up-coming entrepreneurs with the right information to navigate the African market; a platform to galvanize investments for start-ups; start a discussion to encourage easy access to fund locally/globally and advocate for low loan interest rates for upcoming entrepreneurs and finally socio-cultural benefits as the programme will help to boost tourism development in most African countries.