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500+
PARTICIPANTS
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SPEAKERS
70+
15
PANELS
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02
DAYS
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
WINNIE BYANIMA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNAIDS
Winnie Byanyima is the Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, leading global efforts to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030. A longstanding advocate for social justice and health equity, she is also co-founder and co-chair of the People’s Medicines Alliance, which champions equitable access to lifesaving medical technologies.
Previously, Ms Byanyima served as Executive Director of Oxfam International and as a Member of Parliament in Uganda. She founded the Forum for Women in Democracy and has played a leading role in global coalitions addressing social and economic inequality. In 2025, she served on President Ramaphosa’s G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality.
SPEAKERS
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SPEAKER
MAURIZIO CAIO
FOUNDER + MANAGING PARTNER, TLCOM
Maurizio Caio is the Founder and Managing Partner of TLCOM, where he leads the firm’s strategy and management and serves on the boards of Pula, Littlefish, and Swypex.
Before founding TLCOM, he was a Director at Bain & Company, where he led the firm’s EMEA Telecom & Technology practice across Europe and San Francisco, and previously worked at McKinsey & Company on technology and growth strategy.
Beyond investing, Maurizio co-chairs the VC Committee at the African Private Capital Association, serves on the Africa Council of the Global Private Capital Association, collaborates with Stanford SEED, and teaches strategy and venture investing at NUTM. He also developed and taught Ashesi University’s original venture capital course.
SPEAKER
ETHIOPIS TAFARA
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, IFC Africa
Ethiopis Tafara is IFC’s Regional Vice President for Africa, overseeing investment and advisory operations across a $20 billion committed portfolio and more than 800 staff working to strengthen the private sector’s role in addressing the continent’s development priorities.
Previously, he served as Vice President, Chief Risk, Legal & Sustainability Officer and Partnerships at the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and as Vice President and General Counsel of IFC, where he led the organization’s legal, compliance and ESG functions.
Before joining IFC, Ethiopis spent nearly two decades in international securities regulation and cross-border law enforcement, including as Director of the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He has also held senior leadership positions across several international financial and regulatory bodies.
PAST SPEAKERS
H.E. PRESIDENT DANIEL CHAPO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE
DR. WAFAA EL-SADR
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, COLUMBIA GLOBAL
PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO
IMMEDIATE PAST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
WALE AYENI
MANAGING PARTNER, HELIOS DIGITAL
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CUPPY
DJ | PHILANTHROPIST
LADI BALOGUN
CEO, FCMB GROUP
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EMMANUEL LUBANZADIO
AFRICA LEAD, OPENAI
JUDE 'M.I.' ABAGA
ARTIST | CEO, TASCK
FOLAKE OLOWOFOYEKU
ACTRESS AND MUSICIAN
ACHA LEKE
SENIOR PARTNER AND CHAIRMAN, MCKINSEY & COMPANY AFRICA
CAC 2026 IS HERE!
SEPTEMBER 26TH
We are bound by a common thread that connects us to our beautiful continent. As we reflect on the last 22 years of building an African community at Columbia, our journey has been on of resilience, courage, and tenacity.
Our 23rd annual conference is testament to the growth the community has made and achieved in different sectors and how we can stay on that path and work more on growing.
ABOUT COLUMBIA AFRICA CONFERENCE
The Columbia Africa Conference is a student-led platform bringing together leaders, thinkers, builders, and communities shaping Africa’s future.
For more than two decades, CAC has created space for bold conversations, meaningful connections, and a richer understanding of the continent’s role in the world.
This year, Africa Ahead explores how Africa can shape the next global order across business, technology, policy, culture, and society.
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PAST EDITIONS
