By Jane Okeke
The 100 Most Notable Peace Icons Africa has convened a high-level Business and Investment Round Table Meeting in New York, United States, positioning Africa as a prime destination for global capital, innovation and strategic partnerships.
The event, organised under the platform of the 100 Most Notable Africans Leadership and Business Summit, was held on January 6 in Brooklyn, New York, and brought together African leaders in the diaspora, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and diplomats from across continents.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event , the Nigerian Ambassador to New York, His Excellency, Amb Abubakar Jidda
stated that it’s about time we rise up to our responsibility as a people, Africa is currently experiencing its share of global economic growth and positioned as the next destination of business hub.
On his part, the Convener and Projects Director of Peace Icons Africa, Ambassador Kingsley Amafibe, said the gathering was deliberately designed to move Africa’s global engagement from charity-based narratives to opportunity-driven partnerships.
“Africa is no longer waiting to be helped. We are ready to be partnered,” Amafibe declared. “Direct Foreign Investment is no longer a one-way street of aid; it is a two-way highway of opportunity.”
He explained that New York was strategically selected as the venue to place Africa’s economic conversation at the centre of global finance and policymaking, noting that the United States remains a critical partner in aligning capital with Africa’s fast-growing markets.
According to Amafibe, Africa’s vast reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements place the continent at the heart of the global energy transition and advanced technology industries.
He stressed that local processing of these resources within Africa would create millions of jobs, strengthen supply chains and provide ethically sourced materials for Western industries.
The gala night, which combined diplomacy, culture and investment dialogue, attracted Wall Street executives, European diplomats and African entrepreneurs, reinforcing the idea that Africa’s development is closely linked to global economic stability.
Amafibe said the Peace Icons honoured at the event would serve as bridges between African innovation hubs and Western investors, helping to unlock opportunities, expand consumer markets and reduce migration pressures.
“Home is not just a place on a map,” he concluded. “It is a commitment to peace and prosperity. Tonight in Brooklyn, we proved that when Africa and the diaspora unite with global partners, the possibilities are limitless.”
Peace Icons Africa Hosts High-Level Investment Roundtable in New York, Unveils Bold Africa–West Economic Vision
