JHU SAIS to Host Conference on Africa's New Era

The Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) will hold a two-day conference, “Africa’s New Era: Learning From the Past and Preparing for the Future” on Tuesday, March 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, March 2 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

The conference, hosted by SAIS’s Bernard L. Schwartz Forum on Constructive Capitalism and African Studies Program, will explore key political and economic factors that have contributed to the acceleration of the region’s development over the past decade. In addition, panelists will identify key risks and opportunities for African development looking ahead. Jerome Okolo, executive secretary of the National Think Tank for Nigeria and executive vice chairman of GeoQuintiq Limited, will give the conference’s luncheon keynote address at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1. Experts from academia, government, think tanks, international organizations and private sector will speak at the following sessions:

Tuesday, March 1
9:30 a.m. Welcome Remarks by Peter Lewis, director of the SAIS African Studies Program
9:45 a.m. Panel 1: “Assessing the Past and Rethinking the Present”
11:15 a.m. Panel 2: “Beyond Policy: The Governance Factor”
12:45 p.m. Luncheon keynote address by Jerome Okolo
2 p.m. Panel 3: “Drivers of Change and Growth”
3:30 p.m. Panel 4: “Emerging Sectors of the African Economy”

Wednesday, March 2
10 a.m. Panel 5: “Africa’s New Era: Passing Phase or Moment of Change?”
11 a.m. Concluding Remarks by Peter Lewis

The conference, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Kenney Auditorium of the school’s Nitze Building, located at 1740 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. Members of the public should RSVP to rbwashington@jhu.edu.

Members of the media who plan to cover the event should respond to Felisa Neuringer Klubes at the SAIS Communications Office at202.663.5626 or fklubes@jhu.edu.