Howard University African Business Conference 2008

Ladybrille is proud to be a media sponsor for the 1st Annual, Howard University African Business Conference. "The primary aim of the conference is to highlight business and career opportunities in African countries as well as create a platform to showcase the positively thriving economic side of the African story to the global community," says the organizers of the event.

"Howard University, as a leading Historically Black College (HBCU) in the U.S., and its auspicious proximity to various international organizations, embassies and universities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, has always garnered interest and support of African students and professionals in the U.S for its various events focused on Africa. With a large population of international students from African countries, and its role as a rallying point for promoting the African image in the Diaspora, we believe that the university is strategically poised to attract successful and enterprising individuals who are genuinely interested in pursuing business and career opportunities in African countries. We believe that the success version of the African story should naturally be told the world on the platform of Howard University; custodian and ambassador of the successes of the Black race."

The conference will take place on February 29 and March 1, 2008 on the Howard University campus in Washington, DC. The schedule of programs is as follows:

Friday, February 29
Registration - (12:00 noon to 5:00 pm)
Registration will commence on the first day with conference participants being treated to light refreshments as well as an exhibition of various places of interest in Africa. Conference participants will also pick up conference materials at the registration site.

Howard University School of Business MBA Tour - (1:00pm to 3:00pm)
Hourly tours of the Howard University School of Business, as well as the MBA program, will be given to conference participants.

Meet the HU ABC Sponsors - (3:15 to 4.30 p.m.)
A special corporate presentation opportunity for all HU ABC sponsors. Each sponsor will speak to participants about corporate identity, strategy, business scope, achievements, human resource development.

4th Annual African Fashion Show - (6:30pm to 9:00 pm)
The highly successful annual fashion show hosted by the African Students’ Association will serve as a fitting welcome to conference participants who will be regaled with exotic and eclectic fashion styles designed by both renowned and upcoming African fashion designers. Historically, this show has drawn over 500 people from across the United States.

Saturday, March 1
Breakfast/ Registration - (8:00am to 8:45am)
Opening/Keynote Address - (9:00am-10:00am)
An opening address from the Dean of the Howard University School of Business will officially commence the day’s activities. A notable keynote speaker who is a highly successful individual and illustrious member of the African Diaspora will also address conference participants at this event.

Session 1 - (10:15am - 11:45am)
Panel 1: Understanding Infrastructural Development in the Telecom Industry
In view of the recent telecom boom in several African countries, this panel will shed more light on the growth of telecom operators in African countries. The panel will also highlight their role in building and developing telecom infrastructure, and include major telecom operators addressing their investment activities in telecom infrastructure as well as presence from a government regulatory body to speak to government policies that are enabling ventures.

Panel 2: Analyzing the Growth of Capital Markets in Africa
This panel will feature individuals from both international and local investment firms to speak to viable investment vehicles within the rapidly growing capital markets in various African countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana. The panel will also serve to raise awareness on the growing investment activities in these financial markets and their growth over the past couple of years.