London, United Kingdom—Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Nigeria, delivered an inspiring keynote address at the 9th Africa Summit, held at the House of Lords in London. The event, themed “Africa Unleashed: Navigating Disruptions, Enhancing Opportunities,” was organised by the African Leadership Magazine and brought together policymakers, business leaders, diplomats, and thought leaders to discuss sustainable socio-economic development strategies for Africa.
Joining Arc. Echono were distinguished leaders such as The Honourable Philip E.B. Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas; The Right Honourable Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Speaker of the Liberia House of Representatives; Dr. Olavo Correia, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Cape Verde; The Right Honourable Lord Popat, UK House of Lords Member and Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC; and H.E. Rindra Rabarinirinarison, Minister of Economy and Finance of Madagascar. Other notable figures from Africa, the UK, and Europe were also in attendance.
In his speech, Arc. Echono emphasised the need to adopt democratic principles, good governance, and accountability to achieve political stability and peace across the continent. He highlighted the importance of securing funding from institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank to invest in critical infrastructure projects, especially in energy, transportation, and communication systems.
“Unlocking Africa’s immense potential requires a multi-layered approach,” Echono stated. He called for stronger regional integration through organisations like the African Union and ECOWAS, advocating for increased intra-African trade and collaboration to harness the continent’s collective potential.
Arc. Echono also underscored the importance of environmental sustainability and climate action. He urged African nations to protect their natural resources, adopt renewable energy, and promote eco-friendly practices. He stressed that these efforts must be supported by a strong commitment to investing in education and entrepreneurship development.
“Investment in quality education, skills development, and continuous capacity building will create a globally competitive workforce,” he asserted. Echono urged people to embrace technological advancements and digital transformation in order to accelerate innovation and promote entrepreneurship, which he described as the “engine of growth and sustainable development.”
He also pointed out the disconnect between current educational systems and the needs of modern society, calling for a revamp of curricula to foster entrepreneurial thinking and job creation. He highlighted TETFund initiatives like Research for Impact (R4i) and TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR), which have trained hundreds of lecturers and developed numerous prototypes with commercial potential.
“By leveraging advanced technologies and unlocking the possibilities of science, we can plant and nurture the seeds of tomorrow’s innovation today,” Echono concluded. He called on African leaders to use education and entrepreneurship as tools to unleash the continent’s potential.
Arc. Echono engaged in insightful discussions with other distinguished leaders at the event, addressing key issues affecting Africa’s educational system, business, and socio-economic landscape.
On the first day of the two-day summit, Arc. Echono received the African Leadership Excellence Award in Educational Development from African Leadership Magazine. The award was presented by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis, in recognition of Echono’s significant contributions to the growth of education in Nigeria and beyond.
The summit concluded with a strong commitment to transforming Africa into a global powerhouse through strategic investments in human capital and the promotion of a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
