Experts will tonight gather at New York University’s Stern School of Business, USA, to take a deeper look at the African private sector’s critical role post-MDGs. The event is being organised by the Africapitalism Institute, the Lagos, Nigeria-based brainchild of Tony O. Elumelu supported by The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Next year (2015) marks the end of the United Nations’ MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) initiative.

“Although some targets were met, many difficult challenges remain. In the years to follow, the African private sector must play a much larger role in moving the continent forward, changing the traditional approach from one driven by international assistance and charity to empowerment of African entrepreneurs to create inclusive wealth,” the Africapitalism Institute said about the Panel Discussion scheduled to start at 7pm.

The panel, according to an e-mail sent to News Express by the Africapitalism Institute, “will discuss the critical elements needed to drive this change in order to unlock Africa’s vast, untapped wealth both in pursuit of profit and prosperity.”

The Keynote Address will be delivered by Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All.

Peter Henry, Dean, Stern School of Business, and Dr. Wiebe Boer, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation, will serve as Speakers, with the following Panelists: Matthew Bishop, Globalization Editor, The Economist; Gad Cohen, Partner, eleQtra Ltd.; Sara Menker, CEO, Gro Intelligence; Tandeka Nkiwane, Special Advisor to the CEO, NEPAD; and David Rice, Director, Africapitalism Institute.

The discussion will be moderated by Uzo Iweala, Editor, Ventures Africa.

•Photo shows Tony O. Elumelu, Founder of Africapitalism Institute.