By Amin Kef Sesay
George Washington University School of Business welcomed esteemed figures in the realms of finance and business from across Africa, the USA and beyond. The distinguished gathering, titled: “Emerging Technologies for Inclusive Financial Services Delivery,” convened luminaries in global finance and business, with Sierra Leone’s Rokel Commercial Bank Managing Director, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, prominently featured as a key panelist.
The event, held on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 in Washington DC, saw the participation of Central Bank Governors from Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, US lawmakers and finance experts from esteemed institutions like the Brookings Institute, Carnegie Endowment and the World Bank.
The primary focus of the conference was to address the hurdles confronting the African continent and explore policies and initiatives capable of catalyzing transformation within African financial systems. Dr. Gilpin and fellow experts engaged in lively discussions surrounding emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, Cybersecurity and climate finance, probing into innovative solutions that African banks can adopt to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The overarching objective was to galvanize financial resources for the benefit of nations and their citizens.
Dr. Walton Gilpin contributed to a panel of experts examining the theme of Financial Innovations Driving Africa’s Growth. The deliberations illuminated innovative financial solutions, payment systems, mobile banking, and digital platforms poised to propel economic expansion across Africa. Moreover, experts elaborated on strategies to tailor these innovations to local contexts, fortify financial infrastructure, and cultivate collaboration among government entities, domestic enterprises, and foreign investors to advance financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and economic advancement.
