Blog
Aug 11

Thabo Mbeki throws weight behind Africa’s brain gain

Former president Thabo Mbeki has thrown his weight behind Africa’s brain gain, underlining its importance as a key step towards achieving the vision of an African renaissance.

“Bringing Africa’s diaspora home is a critical part of achieving the vision of an African renaissance.  We are proud to be associated with Homecoming Revolution and share their vision of getting the continent’s brightest sons and daughters home,” says Max Boqwana, CEO of The Thabo Mbeki Foundation.

The former president is the keynote speaker at Homecoming Revolution’s Speed Meet Jozi event, taking place on 14 August at the Hilton Sandton.

Speed Meet Jozi brings together African movers and shakers from across the continent in a dynamic and interactive setting.

Another highlight of the event will be the unveiling of key insights from the Homecoming Insights 2015 report, which is being unveiled at Homecoming Revolution’s  Speed Meet Jozi event.

The report examines a broad range of issues including the core reasons why people move abroad, the key trigger factors that encourage people to return home, what people miss most and least about home and what links people still retain with their home countries.

Comments Angel Jones, CEO of Homecoming Revolution, “The report offers an exciting snapshot of African immigration patterns and has certainly yielded some surprising results.”

In proud association with Brand South Africa, the official marketing agency of South Africa, Speed Meet Jozi offers an ideal platform for intra-African networking.

“The Speed Networking format enables African movers and shakers from all corners of the continent to meet in an interactive and relaxed setting,” says Jones.

Attendees will meet leading pan-African corporates including Deloitte, BAT, Barloworld, Accenture, Central Securities Clearing System Limited, Engen and Pam Golding Properties as well as captains of industry, ambassadors, diaspora professionals and other “homecomers”.

“Homecoming Revolution’s Speed Meet event will help bring like-minded South Africans and organisations together so that those who want to play their part and contribute to our country & continent’s growth and development are enabled to do so,” says Brand South Africa’s Acting Chief Marketing Officer Sithembile Ntombela.

Other guests include Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Swaady Martin-Leke (Yswara), Trevor Ncube (Mail& Guardian), Moky Makura (Nigerian TV presenter & writer), Hazel Ojany (Kenyan Homecomer), Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke (Nigerian consul general in South Africa), Samuel Mensah (Ghanaian homecomer), Edward Ndopu (Amnesty International) & Emmanuel Essien (Nigerian Homecomer).

CLIENT COMMENTS

“Through the engagement with Homecoming Revolution, we’ll be able to entice candidates who not only want to interchange but also would like to encompass our culture in their lifestyle,” Deloitte.

“Due to the wide variety of solutions, sectors, clients and regions we service, we are partnering with the Homecoming Revolution to broaden our talent pool,” Kate Stubbs, Executive: Marketing Barloworld.

“We are proud to be associated with Homecoming Revolution to inspire the best talent to return to South Africa.” William Mzimba, Chief Executive, Accenture in South Africa.

“We are extremely proud of our diverse internal talent pool and look forward to the opportunity to strengthen this through meeting more talent that can bring their difference to our organisation,” says Sigrid Erdmann, British American Tobacco, Area Head of HR for Southern African.

“It is our long-held belief that Africa deserves her skills back. It’s very exciting to be playing such an important role in the social and economic prosperity of this beautiful continent,” Dr Andrew Golding, Chief Executive of Pam Golding Properties.

“My main reason for moving back to Nigeria was altruistic. It was nothing to do with what I could get, but what I could do,” CSCS CEO Kyari Bukar.

“As a leading petrochemical company, Engen seeks to secure innovative partners to assist with the attraction of key talent for our international business. To this end, Homecoming Revolution provides the platform for us to secure the best available talent on the continent to ensure the sustainability of our business,” Khethiwe Zondo, Talent Attraction Manager: Engen.