2019 Oxford Africa Conference
Asserting Africa's Relevance; locally, continentally, globally - a reflection by Sarah Michieka
WHT Scholars Sarah Michieka (USA, MSc Migration Studies, Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann) and Zamiyat Abubakar (Nigeria, MSc Social Science of the Internet, Oxford-Hoffmann) at the 2019 Oxford Africa Conference.
The 2019 Oxford Africa Conference was centered around the theme of asserting Africa’s Relevance: Locally, Continentally and Globally. The conference began with several satellite events leading up to the main conference events at the end of the week.
Ghanaian-born British actor, Hugh Quarshie who is an Oxford alum and former President of the Oxford Africa Society.
During the Roundtable on Continent and Diaspora Collaborations for African Developmentevent, we heard from several presenters and discussants including AmbassadorJohanna Svanikier and Oxford Alumni and former Africa Society President HughQuarshie before beginning our discussion on the potential for collaboration andimpact on the continent. As this was the 60th year of the Oxford University Africa Society, we took time to reflect on the previous accomplishments ingovernment, business, and arts of previous alumni from the continent anddiscussed our generation’s potential impact. It is often easy to speak about the challenges facing thecontinent, from youth unemployment to government, but as Hugh Quarshie remindedus, “We may have got it wrong, but it’s not too late to correct.”
Businessman and philanthropist, Dr Mo Ibrahim, in conversation with Primrose Adjepong.
After that inspirational roundtable, the main conference scheduling began on Fridaywith an opening speech and Q&A with Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder And Chairman ofthe Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Dr. Ibrahim spoke about his career and how experiencesguided him to build the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Dr. Ibrahim urged us to take onthe challenges of public affairs with the same passion and determination thatwe bring to our pursuit of of academic and professional success. And finallyDr. Ibrahim offered guidance and reflection on how we can be intentional and thoughtful about our purpose and impact as Oxford students and future Oxford graduates.
The next day was filled with panels, debates, interesting addresses, and aninnovation fair. We covered wide ranging topics including the Utilization of Africa’s Cultural Capital for Social and Economic Development, Challenging theStatus Quo for Good Governance, and Leveraging Innovations in Agritech and Agribusiness on the Continent.
The 2019 Oxford Africa Conference was an exhibition of the great potential of the continent as well as a poignant reminder of the responsibility and the privilege we have in contributing to the realization of that potential. It is easy to get caught up in my time at Oxford especially during exam season. However, events like the 2019 Africa Conference allow me to pause, reflect on my purpose, and consider how I can best utilize this opportunity to study at Oxford as a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholar. I was able to reflect on how to prepare for a life of service; As Dr. Ibrahim noted, “we cannot succeed if society around us is failing;” success is not only about accolades and degrees, it’s about making an impact on the society around us.
