Date 17/02/2025

Location: Casablanca

Victoria Forum Casablanca Round

“A Better Africa for All: Building Trust and Empowering People” The Victoria Forum Casablanca Round is an exclusive event co-organized by the Victoria Forum and ESCA Ecole de Management, Morocco. This marks the first time the Victoria Forum will convene in Africa, highlighting its dedication to enga...

“A Better Africa for All: Building Trust and Empowering People”

The Victoria Forum Casablanca Round is an exclusive event co-organized by the Victoria Forum and ESCA Ecole de Management, Morocco. This marks the first time the Victoria Forum will convene in Africa, highlighting its dedication to engaging with the continent's thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to shape meaningful dialogue on the future of Africa.

The event will bring together distinguished leaders from diverse fields to address some of Africa's most pressing challenges and opportunities. Discussions will focus on empowering youth, navigating geopolitical complexities, combating climate change, and bridging health disparities. The aim is to foster trust, unity, and collaboration while developing actionable solutions that support sustainable growth and social equity across the continent.

Trust lies at the core of this event, as it is seen as a key element for cohesive societies, effective institutions, and resilient societies. Building trust within Africa and externally is critical for sustainable growth and development. The Victoria Forum Casablanca Round will explore how trust can be leveraged to address current challenges while inspiring innovation, prosperity, and inclusive growth.

Africa, with over 60% of its population under 25 years old , holds tremendous potential for shaping a better future. The event will explore how this young and dynamic population, paired with Africa's rich cultural heritage, can be empowered to drive positive change. By engaging key stakeholders, the discussions will create a platform for sharing perspectives and working towards a unified vision for Africa—one that prioritizes economic growth, social equity, and environmental stewardship.

Session 01

Session 02

Session 03

Session 04

Program Overview:

Day 1: February 17, 2025

Opening Remarks – Building Trust and Addressing Africa's Geopolitical Challenges

9:30 AM – 9:40 AM: Welcome Remarks

Saul Klein

Executive Director, Victoria Forum.

Thami Ghorfi

Dean, ESCA Ecole de Management

9:40 AM – 09:45 AM: Opening Address

Isabelle Valois

Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Morocco.

9:45 AM – 9:50 AM: Special Address

Ava Hill

Member of the National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development, University of Victoria

10:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Opening Panel: Empowering Africa's Youth for a Sustainable and Trustworthy Future (Open to students and the public)

Speakers

Arkebe Oqubay

Former Senior Minister and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

Saul Klein

Former Minister of Finance of Tunisia.

Luis Filipe Tavares

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Cape Verde.

Mohamed Abdirizak

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia.

Moderator

Thami Ghorfi

Dean, ESCA Ecole de Management

Session 1

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Navigating Africa's Geopolitical and Socio-Economic Complexities

Exploring the challenges and opportunities arising from Africa's geopolitical landscape and socio-economic dynamics.

Speakers:

El Mokhtar Ghambou

President of the Atlantic Foundation.

Moubarack Lo

Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (IRES).

Rym Ayadi

Professor, Senior Advisor at the CEPS. Founder and President of the EMEA, Founder and Director of the EMANES.

Moderator:

Ahmed Iraqi

Professor and Researcher, ESCA Ecole de Management.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Coffee Break and Networking

Session 2

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Innovative Solutions for Africa's Future: Bridging the Health Divide

Exploring strategies and innovative solutions to address Africa's health disparities for a sustainable future.

Speakers:

Bukola Salami

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Black and Racialized Peoples’ Health and Full Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary.

Jaâfar Heikel

Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Specialist in Infectious Diseases and Public Health, and Health Economist, CEPN, Sorbonne-Paris.

Kenza Zerrou

Director of Innovative Finance at the the World Health Organization.

Saverio Stranges

Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and Director of the Africa Institute.

Moderator:

Adel Guitouni

Professor and Researcher, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria.

Day 2: February 18, 2025

"Driving Climate Action and Innovative Solutions for Africa's Future"

9:00 AM – 09:15 AM: Keynote Speech
Harnessing the Youth Bulge: Creative Pathways to Africa’s Demographic Dividend

Lahcen Haddad

Vice-President of the House of Councillors, Kingdom of Morocco.

Session 3

9:15 AM - 10:45 AM

Addressing the Impact of Climate Change: Migration and Economic Realities for a Resilient Africa

Focusing on the relationship between climate change and migration, and its implications for building resilience in Africa.

Speakers:

António Henriques da Silva

Founder and Managing Director, INVEST-A; Expert in Investment Promotion and Economic Development.

Balgis Osman Elasha

Climate Change and Green Growth Expert with African Development Bank.

Melanie Katsivo

Associate Director, Programs & Partnerships, The Africa Institute & International Partnerships Lead, Frugal Biomedical Innovations Program.

Nouzha Bouchareb

Former Minister of Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy of Morocco.

Moderator:

Rihab Abba

Professor and Researcher, ESCA Ecole de Management.

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM : Coffee Break and Networking

Session 4

11:15 AM - 12:45 PM

From Tensions to Trust: Fostering Dialogue for Co-Prosperity in Africa

Discussions on fostering trust among nations, societies, and institutions for collective prosperity.

Speakers:

Abdou Souleye Diop

Managing Partner of Mazars in Morocco and President of the Africa Commission of the CGEM.

Driss Benomar

Founder and Chairman, Atlantis Center for Research and Geostrategic Studies.

Mohamed Abdirizak

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia.

Luís Filipe Tavares

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Cape Verde.

Moderator:

Saad Laraqui

Associate Dean of Research, ESCA Ecole de Management.

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM : Closing Remarks

Summary of key insights and outcomes from the discussions, highlighting actionable next steps and reinforcing the collective commitment to driving meaningful change across Africa.

Speakers:

Aziz Qadiri

Chair of the Strategic Council at ESCA Ecole de Management.

Saul Klein

Executive Director, Forum de Victoria Forum.

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