Against the backdrop of unprecedented demographic growth, transformative technological shifts, and Africa’s expanding role in global markets, Allison Worldwide; Black House Media (BHM), Africa’s leading public relations firm andThe King’s Trust is co-hosting the second edition of the exclusive Africa Breakfast Conversations on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York City.

Scheduled for Friday, 26 September 2025 at the World Trade Center, this high-level invite-only exclusive event will bring together heads of business, policymakers, innovators, philanthropists, and cultural leaders from across Africa and the diaspora.

The event will explore how African-led innovation, strategic partnerships, and inclusive growth strategies can accelerate progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

With the theme,  African Innovation: Building Together for Sustainable Development,  the event will feature panel discussions, thought-provoking keynote addresses, and high-impact networking sessions spotlighting the many dimensions of Africa’s growth story  – from big business and breakthrough technologies to the creative economy, pop culture, soft power, and geopolitics.

“Africa’s innovation story is no longer emerging, it’s here. This gathering at UNGA 80 is about moving from conversation to collaboration, ensuring that Africa’s youthful energy, creativity, and expertise are met with the resources and partnerships to build sustainable futures.” – Claudine Moore, managing director, Africa at Allison.

Following a successful inaugural edition, the second edition, in partnership with The King’s Trust, will also underscore the pivotal role of youth empowerment, skills development, and leadership opportunities in driving sustainable progress.

Bringing together African and diaspora leaders, innovators, and changemakers, the gathering will showcase expertise, innovation, and African-led solutions at the heart of global conversations.

“This is more than an event; it’s a platform for action. The Africa Breakfast Conversations harness the power of dialogue to create connections that lead to investment, innovation, and impact, bridging Africa and the global economy in meaningful ways ”- Ayeni Adekunle, founder of BHM. 

“We believe in the boundless potential of Africa’s young people. By working together to help young people gain skills and work experience, we can empower the next generation to find meaningful work and set up their own businesses, which will shape Africa’s – and the world’s – future.” – Will Straw, CEO, King’s Trust International.

The Africa Breakfast Conversations align with UNGA 80’s focus on multilateral solutions for sustainable development, placing Africa’s voices and visions at the center of global decision-making. Click here to register to attend

BHM, based in Africa and Europe, in a release said the Company won the award for the second consecutive year.

The prestigious FT ranking, rapidly becoming one of the critical barometers of business success across the African continent, recognises BHM’s stellar performance and solidifies its position as one of the nation’s corporate frontrunners.

The list ranks independent African companies by their organic, internally stimulated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue for the period under review.

Ayeni Adekunle, the founder and CEO of BHM, said that: “the incredible support from our clients and partners across the world has been instrumental in our growth.”

He noted that: “this recognition is further validation of our strategic vision, and our ambition to build the first truly global communications services company with African roots.”

He pointed out that “BHM’s inclusion in the FT ranking is another milestone, as the company continues to lead the industry with its innovative approach to communications.

“The company’s impressive financial performance, spearheaded by robust revenue growth and strategic market expansion, has captured the attention of industry analysts and investors alike.”

The head of the IMF’s Africa department, Abebe Selassie pointed out that despite the economic challenges in Africa within the period, many businesses still managed to survive, saying “much of the private sector, particularly the private sector that’s not directly reliant on government business, has shown incredible resilience.”

The ranking was created by the FT and Statista to showcase the continent’s private growth champions.

Also, Femi Falodun, the executive director, BHM Holdings, said, “this is a testament to the hard work of our people and the incredible support we have enjoyed from partners and clients.

BHM’s story demonstrates the immense potential that exists within the country’s vibrant communications sector.

The company’s ambitious plans for further expansion across Africa and beyond point towards an even brighter future.

BHM’s ability to capitalise on emerging opportunities while navigating the complexities of the African business landscape has solidified its reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

With research-led innovations such as the continent’s first PR & Communications Report (APCR), and the UK’s Cost of Living Survey, among others, the company has continuously exhibited its breadth for data-led solutions.

World PR Day (WPRD) which is celebrated every July 16, is also one of the company’s interventions in the global communications landscape.

The event which took place on Friday, December 2, 2022, at D’Podium Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, recognised over 20 honourees from public relations consultancies, public and private sector practitioners, stakeholders, and the media in various categories.

According to the organisers, MTN received the best brand in storytelling award for its group-wide ‘What Are We Doing Today’ rebrand campaign for its excellent deployment of editorial content, and partnerships with content creators and influencers to drive conversations that reached over 22 million people and delivered outstanding outputs and outcomes for the telecommunications firm.

Funso Aina, Senior Manager, External Relations, MTN Nigeria, who received NIPR’s Best in Crisis Management award last year, was also recognised as the Most Influential PR Professional for the year 2022 by the Lagos state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

MTN’s PR partner, BHM received four awards at  LaPRIGA’s 2022  awards ceremony: Best Supporter of PR, Agency of the Year, Rising PR Practitioner of the Year and PR Practitioner of the Year.

The awards were accorded in recognition of BHMs’ contributions towards scaling the growth and development of the industry by providing innovative solutions to further propel Africa for a more globalised approach to the practice of the public relations profession.

These awards are coming off the heels of MTN Nigeria and its consultancy’s 2022 Africa SABRE Awards for superior achievements in measurement and evaluation and stakeholder engagement for its public offer of ordinary shares to retail investors in December 2021.

The two projects, helmed by BHM, represented a period of improved government relations and financial growth for the company.

Commonly known as the Communications Industry Oscars, The LaPRIGA Awards is a prestigious high-profile event showcasing and recognizing excellence in public relations practice in the public and private sectors.

A new survey of over 10,000 communication professionals in Africa will shed more light on the most critical problems facing the sector and the continent.

This is according to BHM Research and Intelligence, which is producing the first-ever Africa PR and Communications Report in partnership with leading global bodies like the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK), Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria), and over 18 others.

In 2021 alone, the market capitalisation of Africa’s top companies increased by 69% to nearly $710 billion. With an estimated population of 1.3 billion people – more than 60% under the age of 25 – it has become critical to understand the role the communications industry plays within these figures, the industry’s impact over the years, and what to expect as the world’s perception of, and relationship with, Africa continues to evolve.

The research, spanning eight countries across five geographic zones, and incorporating surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), qualitative analysis, and essay contributions from professionals across the continent, kicked off in April 2022.

Ayeni Adekunle, BHM founder and research committee chair says, “Insufficient research and feedback is a major concern for most, if not all, African industries. We understand this challenge, and the APCR committee, in partnership with consultants across the continent, have an onus to fill this gap.”

BHM, one of Africa’s leading communications consultancies, spearheads this research with support from committee members – Stephen Waddington, Eniola Harrison, Moliehi Molekoa and Femi Falodun.

C2M Solutions, an African research company, is the sole researcher on the project. The company combines its research capabilities and in-depth knowledge of the African ecosystem with the APCR committee’s expertise.

The survey includes six groups of 31 questions – gleaned from insights from FGDs and in-depth interviews in four African countries –  specifically designed to identify and address some of the most important global and continental issues affecting the practice of PR and Communications on the continent.

With responses expected from all 54 African countries, the report will serve as a guide to the African PR and Communications landscape. It will highlight opportunities and challenges in the market, assess the impact of social and digital media channels, and predict the industry’s future. It will also provide insight for businesses looking to expand into or enter the African market.

One of the APCR ’s goals for this survey is to provide valuable insights into how mass migration will affect the growth of the communications industry and the general business landscape in Africa in the coming years. The report also seeks to provide significant insights into the other issues related to talent in PR and Communications in Africa.

Africa’s technology ecosystem is currently experiencing a brain drain.

According to the 2021 Africa Developer Ecosystem report by Google, about 38 per cent of African developers work in Africa for a company with its headquarters outside the continent. Software engineers are also migrating due to low pay and limited opportunities.

Data from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies shows that since 2010, almost 20 million Africans have migrated out of the continent, with 11 million Africans migrating to Europe, five million to the Middle East and three million to North America.

As expected, the emigration of more young people from the continent will impact several industries, including marketing and communications. With increased emigration, the PR and communications industry is likely to lose more talent that could revolutionise the sector.

APCR is in partnership with 21 associations, schools and companies across ten countries –  the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), CIPR International, Association of Advertising Agencies Of Nigeria (AAAN), Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), Africa Communications Week (ACW), International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), Women In PR Ghana (WIPRG), Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants, Wadds Inc., African Public Relations Association (APRA), Associaçã de Profissionais de Relaçoes Públicas de Moçambique (APRPM), Global Mind Consulting, Nigerian Women in PR, Uganda Marketers Society, Cameroon Association Of Women In Media (AFMEC), Rwanda Communications Network, Uganda Advertising Association, Central University Ghana, BHM UK, BHM, ID Africa and Plaqad.Inc.

According to APCR Committee Adviser Eniola Harrison, the Africa PR and Communications Report “will provide the industry with the right insights and data that will equip business owners, government officials, PR and communications professionals and practitioners to make better-informed decisions. Invariably leading to better opportunities and outcomes.”

The awards will be presented at the Africa SABRE award ceremony on May 25, 2022, as part of the 2022 African Public Relations Conference. 

The SABRE Awards is an annual international competition that recognises outstanding work in the public relations industry across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The awards programme recognises superior achievement in branding, reputation and engagement and honours the work of communications professionals across EMEA.

The wins are in recognition of MTN Nigeria’s stellar Stakeholder Engagement and Superior Achievement in Measurement and Evaluation for its public offer of ordinary shares to retail investors in December 2021.

 The two projects, helmed by BHM represented a period of ensured improved government relations and financial growth for the company.

MTN Nigeria’s retail offer to sell up to 575 million of the company’s shares was the first in Nigeria to be delivered via a digital platform, Primary Offer. By leveraging technology, the company aimed to facilitate the maximum possible participation by Nigerian investors.

Upon announcement of the results of the public offer, it was revealed that there was an oversubscription of the shares by 139.47%, which led to the activation of the approved 15% greenshoe of an additional 86.25 million MTN Nigeria shares.

As a result, a total of 661.25 million MTN Nigeria shares were allotted, comprising the 575 million Offer shares and the 86.25 million greenshoe.

In addition, 76% of successful applicants from the digital platform are women while 85% are youths under the age of 40.  

Speaking on behalf of the company, Chief Corporate Services Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobechukwu Okigbo, said, “BHM’s recognition at the SABRE awards this year is a delight to us. The awards reinforce BHM & MTN’s commitment to best practice in communications and corporate affairs.”

“BHM won the awards based on campaigns they ran for MTN. It is a testament to our commitment to championing digital inclusion as a strategic driver for social and economic development in Nigeria. We will continue to work with our partners to create innovative solutions that accelerate our strategic objectives while delivering on our vision of leading the delivery of a bold new digital world in our markets and communities,” he concluded. 

The award makes MTN Nigeria the only Nigerian telecommunications company nominated at the 2022 SABRE EMEA Awards, receiving two nominations in the Capital Markets Communications and the Crisis Communications categories.

This year, the SABRE awards attracted more than 5,000 entries of public relations and marketing campaigns from across the globe and were judged by a panel of senior industry experts including Allan Kamau of Weber Shandwick, Bidemi Zakariyau of LSF PR, Carol Warui of Ogilvy Africa, Israel Opayemi of Chain Reactions Nigeria and Karena Crerar of Edelman South Africa, amongst others for Africa and Emily Gosen of Ketchum, Georgina Wolfson of Samsung, Ioana Gorganeanu of Mastercard, and Linnéa Rinäs of Amazon amongst others for the EMEA region. 

Speaking on the nominations, Paul Holmes, chair of the SABRE jury, said: “It is fair to say that we have never seen so much good work from so many firms, including international agencies with growing African operations, and indigenous firms from multiple markets.” 

“What we have seen over the past few years in Africa is the investment of large multinationals in the continent, but also a wave of African entrepreneurship that has seen local firms across the continent producing high-quality creative and driving impressive media coverage and social engagement for their clients,” he added.