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Rokel Commercial Bank Managing Director, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, was a prominent figure at the Future of Finance and Trade in Africa conference this week in Washington DC with the theme: ‘Harnessing Emerging Technologies and Financial Innovation for Inclusive Growth.’
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The event brought together finance and business experts from Africa, the USA, and beyond to discuss how African countries can revolutionize their financial systems to tackle the continent’s challenges.
Organized by the George Washington University School of Business, the conference convened top decision-makers in global finance and business to explore strategies for inclusive financial services delivery using emerging technologies.
Dr. Gilpin, representing Sierra Leone’s Rokel Commercial Bank, played a pivotal role as a panellist, sharing insights on leveraging emerging technologies to enhance financial inclusivity and foster sustainable business practices across Africa’s diverse landscape.
Among the distinguished attendees were Central Bank Governors from Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Rwanda, along with US lawmakers and finance experts from renowned institutions such as the Brookings Institute, Carnegie Endowment, and the World Bank.
Key topics addressed during the conference included the challenges facing African financial systems and the necessary policies and initiatives to drive transformation.
Africa must leverage emerging technologies to drive economic growth
Dr. Gilpin and his fellow panellists engaged in discussions on leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and climate finance to drive economic growth and mobilize financial resources for the continent’s development.
Dr. Gilpin’s panel specifically focused on “Financial Innovations Driving Africa’s Growth,” highlighting innovative solutions such as mobile banking, digital payment systems, and digital platforms that have the potential to propel Africa’s economic advancement.
The panellists emphasized the importance of adapting these innovations to local contexts, building robust financial infrastructure, and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders to promote financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and overall economic progress for the continent of over 1.4 billion people.
The conference was a collaborative effort between the George Washington University School of Business, The Growth Dialogue, the Institute for International Economic Policy (IIEP) at the Elliott School of International Affairs, and Believe in Africa, underscoring the collective commitment to driving positive change and sustainable growth in Africa’s financial landscape.
