There are moments when the future feels close enough to touch. The Africapitalism Conference at THE NEW INSTITUTE was one of those moments, bringing together experts from Africa, the US and Europe to discuss how Africapitalism can generate new opportunities for sustainable, inclusive growth.

Central to these discussions was the One Kindred One Business Initiative (OKOBI), a practical model of shared entrepreneurship that has already been adopted as part of the Nigerian government’s strategy and is having a significant impact on the ground (for more information read our latest press release here.)

Hosted by our program chair Kenneth Amaeshi, the conference brought together distinguished academics, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to discuss the transformative potential of Africapitalism, a philosophy that champions private-sector leadership, community empowerment, and sustainable, inclusive growth in Africa.

About the Film

We are proud to announce the release of our short documentary film chronicling the conference. It features conversations with many of our esteemed fellows as well as with renowned speakers Uchenna Okeja (Nelson Madela University/Yale University), Mambu Sherman (Southern Communities Initiative/Calpe Partners), Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien (International Sustainability Standard Board, Growing Business Foundation), Vincenzo Lorusso (European Commission), Rukaiya El-Rufai (Special Advisor to the President of Nigeria), and Massimo Cingolani (European Investment Bank). Together, these speakers examine Africapitalism from diverse perspectives – across sectors, disciplines, and continents. Each brings a distinct story and vision, contributing to a conversation about how Africa’s private sector, local entrepreneurship, and community-driven solutions can drive inclusive and sustainable growth for the continent and beyond.

Africapitalism, as it emerges in these dialogues, is not a slogan. It is a challenge: to the old binaries of state and market, to the tired narratives of extraction and dependency. It is a call to rethink value, not as something measured in quarterly returns, but as something cultivated in communities and relationships through the slow work of building trust.

This film does not offer easy answers. Instead, it explores complexity. What would it mean to build an economy based on shared ownership, local knowledge, and the hope that things can be different? How can indigenous solutions and cultural context become sources of strength rather than obstacles? How does one move from theory to initiative – from the One Kindred One Business Initiative (OKOBI) to the lived experiences of entrepreneurs and citizens?

At its heart, Africapitalism is about dignity. It's about refusing to separate profit from purpose or growth from justice. It is about the possibility – still fragile and contested – of an economic model that puts people first and changes everything.