Africa Breakfast Conversations To Be Served At UNGA81

The 2026 Africa Breakfast Conversations is set to take place on Friday, September 25, at the World Trade Centre in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The invitation-only gathering convened by BHM and Allison Worldwide brings together leaders from business, technology, finance, government, telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, multilateral institutions and regulatory bodies.

This year’s conversation themed Africa’s Next Chapter: Trade, Partnership, Investment & Global Influence, will focus on three broad questions:

• where Africa’s next decade of opportunity will emerge,
• how the continent can finance growth at scale, and
• how its growing global influence can translate into tangible commercial value.

Meanwhile, the wider agenda will touch on trade expansion, investment capital flows, infrastructure, technology and innovation, and Africa’s evolving role in the global economy. It seeks to capture and deepen the burgeoning economic and investment ties between North America and East Africa.

Ayẹni Adékúnlé, Founder & CEO of BHM Holdings, captures the rationale behind the conversation this way. “The Africa Breakfast Conversations reflects Africa’s transition from potential to performance.” He adds that, as US-Africa commercial relations enter a pivotal period, the platform is intended to help decisionmakers move beyond opportunity narratives toward actionable partnerships that can drive mutual prosperity and sustainable growth.

Launched in 2024 by BHM and Allison, it is a platform for meaningful dialogue between African innovators, global investors and development leaders during UNGA. The inaugural edition brought together influential voices around Africa’s global role and opportunities.

The second edition, held during UNGA80 in 2025 in partnership with The King’s Trust expanded the conversation around African-led innovation and sustainable development. It featured discussions around investment, youth empowerment, technology, media, AI, finance and the creative economy, with speakers including Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Iyin Aboyeji, DJ Cuppy and other African and global leaders. The 2026 edition’s expected outcome is to move beyond dialogue towards connections that can lead to investment, stronger cross-border partnerships and commercial collaboration. The organisers also aim to strengthen Africa’s position in global economic conversations and help translate its growing visibility and influence into tangible economic value.

Highlighting Kenya As East Africa’s Economic Engine

The 2026 edition places special emphasis on Kenya’s evolving position as a regional financial, logistics, and technology gateway. As a premier destination for venture capital in Africa and a lead partner in trade negotiations with Washington, Kenya serves as a vital anchor for international commerce in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ayẹni Adékúnlé, CEO of BHM Holdings said “Africa is no longer just a future prospect; it is a vital, present-day commercial partner. From Nairobi’s Silicon Savannah to global financial hubs, African enterprises are building scalable solutions. This forum brings together the investors, founders, and policymakers responsible for converting continental momentum into long-term enterprise value.”

Kenya provides an important lens for this year’s conversation because of its position across several of these areas, particularly technology and innovation, investment, regional commerce and its growing engagement with global markets. The 2026 announcement specifically highlights Kenya’s strategic role in the wider US-Africa commercial conversation, making its experience relevant to the broader questions around how African economies can build stronger international partnerships and translate opportunity into sustainable growth.

Recent trade and macroeconomic indicators reflect this expanding relationship:

• Strong Economic Momentum: According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya’s economy registered 5.3 per cent GDP growth in Q1 2026, fueled by strong rebounds in tourism, manufacturing, and construction.
• Bilateral Trade Footprint: Bilateral trade between Kenya and the US remains robust. Data from the US Trade Representative (USTR) and KNBS shows annual two-way goods trade surpassing $1.8 billion, with apparel, unroasted coffee, and horticulture driving Kenyan exports to North America.
• AGOA and Trade Frameworks: Kenya continues to leverage duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – notably in textile and apparel manufacturing – while advancing discussions around the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) and regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“For the past few years, we have provided a platform during UNGA for decisionmakers from Africa, the US, and global markets to align around high-impact opportunities,” said Claudine Moore, Managing Director, Africa at Allison. “As East Africa’s innovation powerhouse, Kenya demonstrates how technology, renewable energy, and entrepreneurship can create sustainable commercial links across the Atlantic.”

The Africa Breakfast Conversations has established itself as an exclusive forum during UNGA week. Past participants include leadership from Access Holdings, Future Africa, MTN Group, Goldman Sachs, Citi Bank, NBA Africa, UBA, and The King’s Trust. The event directly mirrors UNGA81’s core agenda, Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All, by placing market-driven solutions, job creation, and African technology leadership at the center of global trade discussions.