Foster Awintiti Akugri, Founder and President of the Hacklab Foundation will be representing the youth of Ghana for the second at the 28th World Economic Forum on Africa from September 4th to 6th, 2019 at Cape Town.
Despite the progress made on Africa’s political and economic transformation, the continent continues to face challenges concerning its geopolitics, pockets of conflict, climate-related environmental vulnerability, and the slow creation of jobs to absorb youthful labour market entrants.
The event aims to tackle these issues by focusing on how to scale-up the transformation of regional architecture related to institutions, infrastructure, integration, industrialization and innovation.
Under the theme ‘Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution’, the event will convene more than 1000 regional and global leaders from politics, business, civil society, and academia to shape regional and industry agendas in the year ahead.
About Foster Awintiti Akugri
Foster serves as the Incubator Manager for the Stanbic Business Incubator in Ghana (SBIncubator Ghana). The SBIncubator is a corporate social initiative of Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, a member of the Standard Bank Group where they provide business development and advisory support to entrepreneurs and SMEs in Ghana.
In January 2018, he was selected to represent the Youth of Ghana at the World Economic Forum’s 48th Annual Meeting, Davos, Switzerland in 2018. He was named the youngest participant to attend the Meeting.
He serves as a member of the Malaika Coalition, a committee mandated by the Africa Regional Strategy Group of the World Economic Forum to work on the Africa 4.0 Initiative. He is a Global Shaper of the Kumasi Hub. The Global Shapers Community is an initiative of the World Economic Forum consisting of over 8377 young people between the ages of 18 years – 33 years who lead and drive change in their communities.
He was listed among 30 under 30 Future of Ghana Pioneers Class of 2019.
He founded the Hacklab Foundation in 2015 to help prepare the youth for future jobs. Through its partnership with Stanbic Bank, Vodafone Ghana, IBM and more, they have impacted over 8000 youth. The Foundation’s National Digital Skills Training Program powered by IBM has provided education on emerging technologies to over 5000 people with hope to reach 100,000 youths by 2021.
The Foundation is known for organizing the largest hackathon in West Africa which brings together over 600 student innovators from 18 tertiary institutions annually to learn, discuss and develop practical solutions to address local problems. Over 300 people have been placed in full time and part-time jobs, internships and helped organizations sourced for talents through the National Service Scheme.
Foster is a public speaker and a passionate advocate who believes in harnessing STEM to advance development in Africa by ensuring greater participation by young people. He is a two-time TEDx speaker. Among other platforms he has spoken include the 12th Annual Conference of the National Society of Black Engineers Ghana, 2nd Ghana Internet Governance Forum, Seamless West Africa Conference, Ghana Teens Summit, and more.
He sits on several boards including the Africa Digital Awards where he serves as the Board Chair.
Other Ghanaians attending this event include Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison, Governor of Bank of Ghana, Reginald Yoofi Grant, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kelvin Okyere, CEO of Springfield Group, Bright Simons, President of mPedigree, Emi-Beth Quantson, CEO of Kawa Moka, Rya Kuewor, CEO of Refugee Integration Organization (ROI), Sampson K. Adotey Jnr, Africa Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and Daniel K. Anguah Jnr, President of Children Are Reason Enough (C.A.R.E.) and human rights activist.
StephanieHorsu/techvoiceafrica.com
