Experts say Africa can only unlock its full potential by making deliberate, long-term investments in entrepreneurs who are driving job creation and building solutions to the continent’s most urgent challenges. Their remarks came during the seventh edition of the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Summit and Grand Finale, held at the Kigali Convention Centre from December 12–13. ALSO READ: Africa’s Business Heroes returns to Kigali for 7th edition The two-day event, held in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), has brought together African entrepreneurs, students, and investors to discuss key opportunities and solutions shaping the continent’s entrepreneurial landscape. ABH, a flagship initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation, is one of Africa’s largest and most inclusive pitch competitions. It empowers outstanding entrepreneurs through grant funding, mentorship, and media exposure. The competition, which began as the Africa NetPreneur Prize Initiative, is supported by a $10 million investment spanning 2019 to 2029. “We are proud that ABH has chosen Kigali as the host city for the grand finale. This is not by coincidence. It reflects a shared commitment between the government of Rwanda and the ABH community that entrepreneurship is not just a tool for development, it is an engine of transformation,” RDB’s Deputy CEO Juliana Muganza said. She said Rwanda’s vision puts entrepreneurs at the heart of socio-economic growth, supported by policies and infrastructure like a modern investment code, digital business services, innovation hubs, special economic zones, and Kigali Innovation City. ALSO READ: ABH: African entrepreneurs must prioritize continent's market - experts “We are building an ecosystem where ideas grow into companies, and companies scale into regional leaders... But policy and infrastructure alone are not enough. The real power lies in the people, and this is why partnership becomes pivotal.” Muganza noted that Africa is open to business and is ready for investment that is patient, strategic, and supportive of entrepreneurs’ growth. Lijun Sun, President of Alibaba Philanthropy, said that the organization’s vision for Africa is simple: to support the continent and ensure that African entrepreneurs face no obstacles, with ABH serving as a clear starting point for this mission. “We want African entrepreneurs from all walks of life to participate. We want to find a group of real African heroes and use their stories and spirit to inspire the entire African continent.” Africa is full of entrepreneurial spirit and problem-solvers, and that many of the continent’s challenges can be addressed through African-led innovation, he added. ALSO READ: Rwanda's entrepreneurial victory: A 5-year business success in Africa According to Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Managing Director of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), the community’s entrepreneurs have created over 120,000 jobs and positively impacted more than 40 million lives through the customers they serve. For instance, Rwandan Francine Munyaneza is turning candlelit childhoods into solar-powered communities through her company, Munyax Eco. Meanwhile, Shona McDonald from South Africa designed Africa’s first locally-made wheelchair through her company, Shonaquip Social Enterprise. “Africa’s future is not some distant idea. Africa’s future is being built right now by its entrepreneurs, many of whom are in the room with us today,” she said. She emphasised that the entrepreneurs’ ideas and achievements are reaching 50 million people digitally and even more through broader media exposure. “African entrepreneurs are redefining what is possible, and they're doing so with grit, with passion, and with innovation,” she added.
