Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of News Central TV, Kayode Akintemi, joined business, investment and media leaders on Friday, September, 25 2026 to examine how capital, visibility and credible information could support Africa’s next phase of economic growth at Africa Breakfast Convos 2026 in New York.
The panel, titled “Financing Africa’s Next Growth Chapter,” brought Akintemi together with Akunna Cook, CEO and Founder of Next Narrative Africa, under the moderation of broadcaster Afua Hagan. The discussion examined the factors shaping investor confidence, the need for stronger financing channels and the role of storytelling in presenting African businesses and markets to international investors.
The financing challenge remains significant. The African Development Bank estimates Africa faces an annual development financing gap of about $400 billion, while its New African Financial Architecture for Development initiative notes aggregate domestic capital pools of more than $4 trillion across banking assets, pensions, insurance funds, reserves, sovereign wealth funds and other sources. The challenge therefore includes directing existing capital towards productive investment.
Recent investment data also points to both opportunity and concentration. UN Trade and Development reported that Africa attracted about $70 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, the continent’s third-highest level since 1990. The figure remained about one-third above Africa’s long-term average, although investment remained concentrated in selected countries and sectors such as energy, infrastructure and critical minerals.
Akintemi’s contribution reflected his wider position on the relationship between media, information and economic activity. In 2025, he stressed the need for stronger cooperation between media organisations and financial market institutions, with News Central and the Central Securities Clearing System agreeing to work around investor education and more informed reporting of market developments., “Investors need to see more than the challenges in Africa. They need to see the people, businesses and ideas creating solutions, and our media has a responsibility to tell those stories with context and credibility,” he said.
With more than 35 years in broadcasting and media, Akintemi brought experience across journalism, television presentation and media leadership to the conversation. His current leadership at News Central has also focused on strengthening editorial standards, business and economic coverage, and African storytelling for audiences on the continent and beyond. News Central’s editorial board has identified credible journalism, depth, context and global relevance as central to its editorial direction.