​Breaking Bread: Investing in the Africa We Owe Ourselves

​Half-Day Summit & Private Dinner Experience
Wednesday, December 17 | 4:00 – 8:00 PM | Lagos, Nigeria (Address provided upon receipt to confirmed RSVP's)

OVERVIEW

​As the world turns its eyes toward Africa’s expanding economic power, Breaking Bread gathers 40–50 visionary leaders from the U.S., U.K., and across the African continent for an intimate half-day strategy summit. This experience blends deep dialogue with high-level coordination — designed to build the long-term infrastructure, trust, and capital flows required for the global African diaspora to thrive.

​This year’s focus is rooted in a question I’ve explored as a policymaker turned venture capitalist: “What happens when we merge public influence with private capital to build the infrastructure our communities deserve?” After traveling between Nigeria, the U.S., and the U.K. for the past several years, I’ve seen a clear and urgent opportunity for a stronger pipeline of diaspora investors, operators, policymakers, and builders who are ready to invest their time, talent, and resources into Africa’s future.

​December — when many returns home — is the perfect moment to convene those who want to move conversation into coordination. Speakers, session leaders, and final content will be announced by early December. Participants will explore:

​• How to deploy blended capital across energy, technology, and creative industries to build continental and diasporan infrastructure.
• How to leverage government and policy relationships to catalyze scalable investment.
• How culture, community, and collective storytelling can strengthen ownership in the African narrative.

​Full session descriptions, speaker profiles, and conversation leaders will be revealed in early December.

​SUMMIT FORMAT

​4:00 – 4:30 PM | Guest Arrival & Networking
(Cocktails & Chef’s Welcome)

​4:30 – 4:45 PM | Opening Remarks
Vision for Merging Policy & Capital

​4:45 – 6:15 PM | Expert Conversation Series
• Public Meets Private: The Power Equation
• Investing in Infrastructure: Building Africa’s Foundations
• Owning Our Narrative: From Culture to Capital
Speaker announcements coming early December.

​6:15 – 6:45 PM | Dinner is Served
Diaspora-Inspired Three-Course Meal

​6:45 – 7:05 PM | Keynote: Vision for the Future

​7:05 – 7:25 PM | Dessert & Reflections
Commitments and Partnerships

​7:25 PM – Until | Networking & Nightcap
Live Music & Connections

​HOST & CURATOR

​Olayinka Osibodu is a political strategist turned venture ecosystem builder with over a decade of experience across government, impact investing, and entrepreneurship. A former U.S. Congressional staffer and venture capitalist, she has stewarded over $100 million in assets under management across funds such as Runway Capital, Common Future, and Zane Venture Fund — designing blended capital strategies that bridge government contracts, venture capital, philanthropic investment, and crowdfunding.

​As Founder of OWES (Olayinka Wealth Equity Strategies), Olayinka operates at the intersection of policy, business, and culture, building bridges that turn public influence and private capital into coordinated economic power. Her work centers sustainable infrastructure, economic dignity, and generational wealth across Black and African diasporan communities globally.

​WHY IT MATTERS

​• The African diaspora sends $50B+ annually in remittances — a powerful but under-leveraged asset for long-term wealth creation.
• Less than 1% of global venture capital reaches African startups, despite frontier markets generating 2–3x higher returns.
• 70% of Africa’s population is under 30, yet infrastructure and capital access continue to lag behind opportunity.
• Cultural exports — music, fashion, film, food — produce billions in global value without corresponding ownership for African creators and communities.

​Breaking Bread addresses these gaps by aligning public and private sectors to build the economic, cultural, and physical infrastructure required for generational wealth across the African diaspora.

​THEMATIC ANCHORS

​These guiding themes frame the day’s conversations and sponsorship narrative:

​• Breaking Bread, Building Bridges
• Africa to the World: Merging Power, Policy & Capital
• From Influence to Infrastructure: Financing Our Future
• The Lagos Table: Where Legacy Begins
• From Conversation to Commitment: Building Diasporan Economies Together

​Final themes, speakers, and facilitated sessions will be confirmed by early December.