Nairobi, Kenya – May 11, 2024 – Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, challenged African leaders at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi to cultivate homegrown solutions for continental development and reduce reliance on external aid. Speaking at the opening of the two-day summit, co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, Dr. Agyepong emphasized Africa’s potential to address its own challenges, particularly through innovative industries like waste management.
Context of the Summit
The Africa Forward Summit, held on May 11-12 at the University of Nairobi, marked a significant moment as the first Africa-France summit co-chaired by an English-speaking African nation. Under the theme “To Build Together,” the summit focused on seven key areas: energy transition, artificial intelligence, the blue economy, and the reform of the international financial architecture. The gathering aimed to foster new partnerships and explore collaborative approaches to African development.
From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leader
Dr. Agyepong shared his personal journey, recounting his upbringing with sixteen siblings and his early experiences as a street vendor due to financial constraints. He revealed that an initial capital of just three dollars from his mother launched him into entrepreneurship, instilling resilience and drive.
This entrepreneurial spirit led to the growth of Jospong Group, which now stands as a $1.9 billion USD asset-based company. The group operates 82 independent subsidiaries across nine business clusters, with a presence in 29 countries. Jospong directly employs 10,000 staff and indirectly supports over 250,000 jobs.
Waste Management: An Unmined Resource
Addressing the summit’s focus on financial growth through entrepreneurship, Dr. Agyepong highlighted the global waste crisis. Annually, the world generates 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste, a figure projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 174 million tonnes are produced yearly, with less than 4% being properly managed or recycled, a stark contrast to Europe’s 48% recycling rate.
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