Dr. Cheick Diarra
Chairman of Microsoft Africa, invites you to the
Second Event of the Microsoft Leadership Lecture Series
Featuring
Dr. Alioune Sall
Executive Director of the African Futures Institute
Topic:
What possible futures lie ahead for Africa?
May 19, 2008, 5pm - 8:30pm
Salon Orsay de l’Hôtel Hilton,
18, avenue de Suffren,
75015 Paris
Microsoft Leadership Lecture Series
Building a Better Future Starts Today
Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, Chairman for Microsoft Africa, is honoured to present the second conference in a cycle called Microsoft Leadership Lecture Series featuring Dr Alioune Sall , Executive Director of the African Futures Institute.
The event focuses on research undertaken by Dr. Sall as part of his last book entitled “Africa 2025: What Possible Futures for Sub-Saharan Africa?” It proposes ways for Africa to enter the 21st century.
In January 2008 the Leadership Lecture Series was presented to an audience of students in Dr. Diarra’s hometown in Bamako, Mali. It was received with much enthusiasm and interest. Passionate and rich debates were raised after the conference.
Microsoft has developed the Leadership Lecture Series in order to challenge people to think differently and to question the various paths of thinking that could be followed when making a decision. These lectures bring together prominent African thought leaders across the African continent but also from the Diaspora, to speak about various socio-political issues, in order to ignite a renewed passion amongst the people of Africa and encourage exchange of ideas amongst the participants.
“We are hoping to plant the seed that will help the leaders of Africa put the well-being of the continent and its people at the top of their list of priorities,” said Dr. Diarra.
“We need to give the current and future leaders of Africa a platform to bring their own ideas about how they see the continent progressing into the future and find ways to make this progression a reality.”
“We will give the attendees the opportunity to debate amongst themselves and bring suggestions and ideas to the table about how to affect the future direction of the continent,” Dr. Sall said.
“There are a number of possible futures that could face Africa, and there are a number of different issues and variables that could have an effect on which future the continent decides to head towards,” he added.
“Africa does not have to sit around and accept whatever fate it is handed,” Dr. Diarra said. “With its relatively young population, rich wealth of resources and sheer landmass, Africa is well positioned to become a serious economic centre worldwide.”
The role of technology
Although there are a number of variables that can have an effect on which “future” Africa embraces as its own, the role of technology in helping the continent realise its full potential on a global scale is most certainly one common influencer across these various potential futures.
Using economies of scale, technology can help governments and businesses operate more affordably and more efficiently. Technology also transforms education, making it more accessible and easy to distribute to even the remotest area with some time and effort invested.
The combination of the attendees’ intellectual involvement and the in-depth research conducted by Dr. Sall and his team is sure to stimulate some very good debates and hopefully spark some even better ideas for Africa’s future.
Registration
Attendance of this event is free, however spaces are limited. It is essential that you register for this event by sending an email to leadership@icwe.net.
The Speakers at Microsoft Leadership Lecture Series
Dr Cheick Diarra is Chairman of Microsoft Africa. Born in Mali Cheick graduated from Marie-Curie University, Paris, and also has a Ph.D. in Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering from Howard University, Washington DC, in the USA. His academic background has prepared him well for his position as the First Chief Executive Officer of the African Virtual University. He is Vice-President of the UN World-Science Ethics Committee, a member of the independent commission on Africa and the Millennium and a member of the African Union / NEPAD Panel on Biotechnology. Furthermore, Cheick is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Science, Technology and Enterprise and is also Founder and President of the African Summit on Science and New Technologies. In 1999 he created the Pathfinder Foundation for Education and Development. www.microsoft.com
Dr Alioune Sall (Senegal) is currently the Executive Director of the African Futures Institute, an African platform for prospective thinking to facilitate the formulation by African countries of endogenous development models and approaches to achieve social justice, safeguard the dignity of their people and win the 21st century battle. He holds a Doctorate in Sociology from Université de Paris VII. Prior to being assigned to African Futures Project in 1996 as Regional Coordinator, he held several positions in United Nations Development Programme Headquarters in New York and South Africa. Before joining UNDP, he conducted research focusing on development of pastoral societies and human resources development in Sahel. Dr Sall is member of the Task Force of Cultural Indicators of Human Development in Africa. www.africanfutures.org