In a compelling press conference, held on Wednesday September 10, 2025, Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General & CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, delivered a powerful narrative about Africa’s economic potential and the upcoming Unstoppable Africa 2025 event.
Addressing a global media audience, Ojiambo emphasized the strategic importance of the September 21-22 summit, positioning it as more than just a conference, but a critical platform for reshaping global economic narratives.
“We see Unstoppable Africa in September as the kickoff for a series of events in the year,” Ojiambo explained. “Our primary goal is to center Africa’s possibilities, resources, people, and innovation at the heart of the global economic growth narrative.”
The press conference fielded diverse questions from international media representatives, with Ojiambo addressing key concerns about the event’s scope and significance.
When questioned about hosting an African event in New York, she was direct: “We are hosting this in New York because it’s the single largest opportunity to have political and business leaders together during the UN General Assembly week.”
Highlighting the event’s commitment to youth and innovation, Ojiambo showcased plans to feature eight young innovators through a UNDP partnership, demonstrating Africa’s technological prowess.
“Africa leads in mobile money technology,” she stated, emphasizing the continent’s digital leadership. “Over 90% of Africans first access the internet through mobile phones, making us highly digitally mobile.”
The conference revealed an impressive lineup of speakers, including business leaders like Strive Massiyiwa, Ngozi Okonjo-Wela, and Jeremy Worsley, representing diverse sectors from technology to trade.
A key focus was the event’s tracking mechanism for commitments. “We track commitments on a half-yearly and annual basis,” Ojiambo explained, underlining the initiative’s accountability.
The press conference was a strategic communication effort to position Africa not as a recipient of global economic activity, but as a primary driver of global business opportunities.
“Africa has a $3 trillion market opportunity,” Ojiambo emphasized, “We are not just participating in the global economy – we are shaping it.”
The event will explore critical sectors including energy, digital transformation, creative economy, and sports, with curated side sessions designed to foster meaningful collaborations.
Ojiambo thanked the media, recognizing their crucial role in amplifying Africa’s narrative: “How do we convince investors? It’s by the story that the media helps us amplify and elevate.”
