Forbes 30 Under 30 now on Botswana’s doorstep

Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 is a compilation that lists some of the greatest game changers in Africa. From the name itself, 30 candidates are selected under the age of 30 from various sectors and categories, including Technology, Business, Sports, Creatives and Science.

Forbes events are meant to unlock opportunities for inspiration, innovation and exploration. The wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been quite a reckoning for the hard hit African nations and the respective entrepreneurs. Perseverance though has moulded characters to build resilience and provide solutions that speak to social change and convene in common notions to transform the Africa that Africans want to see in the future.

Indeed, the Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa will get underway in Botswana this coming week with over 600 participants from across the world. This feeds from the President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Reset Agenda to put Botswana on the international landscape and benchmark from the successful initiatives seen by global innovators who are changing businesses around the world. What better motive yet than to have them convene in the continent’s most stable country and have them network and exchange skills with the aim of forging fruitful partnerships and allegiances!

This will be quite exciting to see Botswana’s business leaders, venture capitalists and investment bankers along with senior government officials taking the lead in providing a platform for Botswana’s most innovative youth to harness the synergy of the summit itself and what will flow from it afterwards. One third of the participants will come from the Forbes 30 under 30 Africa community, one third from Botswana as the host country, and one third from the Forbes 30 under 30 community worldwide.

Last year’s summit was held online and over 1 000 participants flooded the nominations portal and a great success was achieved. This year, Part 2 of the summit will be held in Kasane, one of Botswana’s greatest resort towns. Tourism was one of the sectors hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, rendering many jobless. The summit will provide an opportunity for the hospitality and travel companies to gain instantly and market themselves widely further by showcasing Botswana’s beauty to the international participants. The contiguity of neighbouring Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia will be an added advantage and may even enable an excursion to nearby Victoria falls.

Botswana will have its own entrepreneurs and shining stars participating in the summit. Among them is Thobo Khathola (30), Tony Mautsu (29), Newman Ramatokwane (31) and Nijel Amos (28). With all the four having been vetted in various nomination criteria, it speaks to the multiple talents of the country’s youth. We celebrate them and believe that this summit will help leverage further opportunities for them and the rest of the participants.

For feedback and comments, please email ‘ctketlhoafetse@gmail.com or LinkedIn “Chilo Ketlhoafetse.”