McKevin Ayaba, the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Setup A Startup and the driving force behind the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit & Awards (ASEB), believes that Africa’s future prosperity hinges on intentional conversations being translated into actionable policies.

Speaking at the ASEB 2024, on October 3, 2024, in Accra, Ayaba emphasised the critical need for African leaders to create an environment that supports entrepreneurship and innovation.

“If leaders within the African trade sector implement the resolutions they discuss, trust me, in the next 10-15 years, Africa will be better. We need to start doing the work and be intentional about it,” he said.

He stressed the importance of policy frameworks that enable economic development across the continent.

Ayaba stressed the need for African entrepreneurs to embrace collaboration over competition.

“Most entrepreneurs work in silos, competing against each other. We created this summit to have conversations about the power of collaboration. We need this to open doors for entrepreneurs and create access to job opportunities.”

One of the key challenges Ayaba addressed is the high cost of traveling across Africa for young entrepreneurs.

“Traveling across Africa is the most expensive thing to do as a young entrepreneur. We need to create policies that ensure the environment is conducive to trade. We have to be intentional and dedicated,” he added.

Franklin Owusu Karikari, Director of Business Support and Policy at the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), echoed Ayaba’s call for deliberate action.

“For over 20 years, we’ve talked about a common currency, but it has yet to materialize. African countries must be deliberate in implementing ideas that drive trade, commerce, and innovation.”

Now in its third edition, ASEB aims to reshape the African entrepreneurial ecosystem by focusing on ecosystem building as a new approach to economic development.

Through workshops, breakout sessions, and collaborative activities, participants are encouraged to co-create tools and strategies that support entrepreneurs.

Previous editions of ASEB were held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Nairobi, Kenya, and this year’s event in Accra.

ASEB 2024, co-organized by Orange Corners together with BrandSA, a longtime partner of ASEB, gathered over 100 participants from across Africa, uniting innovators, thought leaders, and ecosystem builders to chart the course for the continent’s entrepreneurial future.





AM/KA

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