Friends of Africa 2025

African Economic Summit – FOA 2025

Theme: “Redefining Tariff Policies and Innovation Partnerships for Inclusive Growth”
Date: October 25, 2025
Location: Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto

Join us for the Grand Finale of the African Economic Summit (FOA 2025), featuring powerful keynotes, roundtable discussions, fashion showcases, workshops, and the celebration of emerging leaders through the B.E.S.T Program and Pitch Masters Competition.

📍 EVENT TIMESTAMPS
0:00:00
0:26 – 1:14 - Marketplace
1:15 – 7:31 - Opening Remarks – Dr. Jean Augustine, 1st Black Member of Parliament/ Cabinet Minister, Canada and Founder of the Jean Augustine Centre for the Empowerment of Girl

7:38 – 10:23- Fashion Show
10:24 – 10:58 - Networking Segment
10:59 – 14:44 - Welcoming Remarks: Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade, President, Casa Foundation for International Development
15:03 – 25:01 - Goodwill Remarks: Consul General Anthony Branker, Republic of Barbados


27:35 –Program Continuation
28:30 – 30:18 - Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Grant Recognition
– MPP Chris Glover, Spadina-Fort York
– Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade
32:11 – 43:51 – Candies Kotchapaw, Executive Director Black Diplomats Academy
45:14 – 56:57 - Workshop – Bunmi Bamigbola, Branch Manager Scotiabank
57:00 – 1:00:13 - Minister Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Secretary of State for Tourism and Small Business
1:00:58 – 1:12:45 - Workshop –Prof Odoi Yemoh, Chair, Ghanaian Canadian Chamber of Commerce
1:12:47 – 1:23:27 - Keynote – Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade
1:23:38 – 2:08:42 - Panel 1 – From Domestic Barriers to Global Bridges
Panel Chair: Dr. Jean Augustine, 1st Black Member of Parliament/Cabinet Minister, Canada and Founder of the Jean Augustine Centre for the Empowerment of Girls

Panelists:
Hon Amelia Anne Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, Republic of Uganda
Hon. James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ghana
Councillor Ayo Owodunni, Kitchener, Ontario
Dr. Nancy Adossi, Senior International Policy Professional, Expert in Trade and Socio-Economic Development
Mr. Adekunle Akintayo, Technical Director, Energy Group, United Kingdom

2:09:20 – 3:29:13- Panel 2 – Breaking Financial Barriers to Enable Trade Diversification

Ms. Aliya Ramji, Chair, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Panelists:
Ms. Clare Barnett, Director, Economic Development, City of Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Vik Singh, Associate Professor, Global Management, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
Ms. Kylee Tarbell, Executive Board and Treasurer, Ontario First Nations Economic Developers Association (OFNEDA)
Mr. Pheroz Austin, AVP Indigenous Banking Group (Eastern Canada), TD Bank

3:30:48 – 4:14:45 -Panel 3 – From Digital Gaps to Global Growth: The Role of AI in Future Trade
Dr. Wendy Cukier (Sue-Key-Er), Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Ted Rogers School of Management

Panelists:
Prof. Abayomi Baiyere, Associate Professor & Distinguished Research Fellow of Digital Technology
Mr. Daniel Anckle, Executive Director, Tropicana Community Services
Mr. Fred Delano Sherman, Strategic Advisor to the Canadian Ombudsperson on Responsible Enterprise, Global Affairs Canada
Ms. Fanten Jasmee, Deputy Secretary General, Malaysian Business Council United Arab Emirates
Prof. Odoi Yemoh, Chair, Ghanaian Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Kunle Tauhid, Vice President Financing and Consulting at The Business Development Bank of Canada(BDC)- HE IS NOT JOINING

4:25:58 – 4:27:07 - Best Grad Recognition / Closing Clip