Prince Hissan Siita Sofo, President of AfYEFThe AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF) will host a high-level side event during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at promoting youth and women empowerment within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, the event will take place at the Sofitel Hotel Abidjan, Salle BOUAKÉ, under the theme “Empowering Women and Youth Through AfCFTA.” It is expected to draw a distinguished audience of policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and development partners from across the continent.
A key highlight of the event will be the official launch of the AfCFTA Guide Book—a pioneering practical resource designed to help African entrepreneurs navigate AfCFTA trade protocols, market entry strategies, and export-readiness tools.
Keynote speeches will be delivered by H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, and Dr. Joy Kategekwa, Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office at the AfDB. Their addresses will focus on AfCFTA’s potential to catalyze inclusive growth by creating trade opportunities for youth and women.
AfYEF’s Founding President, Siita Sofo Hissan, will call for increased investment in youth-led innovation and capacity-building. He is expected to advocate for inclusive financing models that reflect the realities of young and women entrepreneurs and push for greater youth representation in the governance of new financial institutions, particularly the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB)—an AfDB initiative currently being piloted in 13 countries.
Other notable participants include Fredrick Nonde Jr., AfYEF Vice President for Administration; Hon. George Opare-Addo, Ghana’s Minister for Youth Development; and Governors from Nigeria, among others.
According to AfYEF, the event aims to spotlight AfCFTA’s transformative potential, provide practical tools for emerging entrepreneurs, and promote equitable participation in continental trade. The launch of the AfCFTA Guide Book is intended to support a new generation of African business leaders by offering actionable insights and step-by-step guidance.
With an anticipated attendance of up to 200 participants from various African countries, the event will be conducted in English, with simultaneous French interpretation and live streaming to ensure wider accessibility across the continent.
At the launch, 200 physical copies of the AfCFTA Guide Book will be distributed, with plans for broader dissemination to empower thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs across Africa.
