Film maker, director, publisher and business visionary Anthony Abulu planned his NYC African Expo at the Marriott Marquis for a year. He wanted to bring together African and African American business people to build stronger connections and discuss answers to long time problems.
“Our Africa Expo USA was a resounding success,” he told the Amsterdam News. Even though some attendees were not able to secure American visas in time, “The distinguished participants from Wall Street, U.S. African American media and the cultural community discussed ideas on how to promote stronger comprehensive African and African American relationships. A new dawn emerged, especially as we were able to present our new digital monetization platform blazechannel.com—a symbiotic relationship between the African creative industry and Diaspora Remittances. Africa’s most widespread Bank Ecobank was also in attendance as an event sponsor, poised to benefit from the massive opportunities created through HBCU rich membership support, and the critical role the African Diaspora is prepared to play to actualize the strategy in America.”
The first annual Africa Expo, USA, was held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, Astor Ballroom, in New York City.
Africa Expo USA Associate Producer and Director of Protocol Nigeria Consulate New York Sumonu Bello-Osagie, and on the Diaspora Remittances structure panel: Dr. Jana Woodhouse, Wall Street icon, and Tony Rogers, director of Tourism Harlem USA and co-founder of Harlem Week.
Also present was Mayor John Linder Chester Pennsylvania, leading 100 top African American investors to Africa.
Panelists on “American support for African Creative Industry” were Margaret Olele, CEO American Business Council and Soul City Television Network, and Matt McCoy, coordinating 1 million Historical Black Colleges and University alumni to support Ecobank accounts.
An economic visionary and creative himself, Nigerian-born Abulu, who lives in Harlem, is also the publisher of Black Ivory magazine, and creator of the Dr. Bello movies: “Doctor Bello,” “Crazy like a Fox,” “Back to Africa,” “American Dream,” “Superstar,” and “Spellbound.”
“With Ecobank sponsoring our international event, we pushed forward the notion that this serious topic of building focused African and African American business, cultural and economic interactions,” said Abulu, who is already planning next year’s expo. “We have the solutions to any obstacles, but we have to raise money and work intricately together to understand how we use our different skills and experiences. At this Africa Expo we highlighted the importance of the creative industry, and its place in building economies worldwide.”
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