Ugandan philanthropist Jane Frances Acilo was appointed Global Ambassador for the Elevate Africa initiative during a high-level Accra convening, joining continental leaders to champion grassroots empowerment and shift Africa’s development narrative.
Philanthropist and businesswoman Jane Frances Acilo entered the continental spotlight at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Ghana, where she formally accepted her new diplomatic post. The Jane Acilo Foundation founder received the honors during the Elevate Africa Convening 2026, which ran from October 28 to 29 under the guiding theme Africa: Defining Her Future.
The appointment places Acilo alongside prominent former heads of state and continental figures tasked with aligning community-level social entrepreneurship with broad regional strategies. The Elevate Africa Global Ambassadors Program aims to unite key African figures in fostering leadership, deepening alliances, and boosting the continent’s standing worldwide.
Accra Convening Brings Together Past Presidents and Modern Innovators
The two-day summit drew a heavy roster of political leaders, policy experts, and traditional rulers. Present at the gathering were former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, former Malawian President Joyce Banda, former Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, and former Mauritian President Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.
Ugandan Businesswoman Jane Frances Acilo Named Elevate Africa Global Ambassadorhttps://t.co/xabuN5kc9O
Ahead of the main sessions, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, paid a courtesy call on former President Kufuor to exchange perspectives on visionary leadership and self-reliance. During the engagement, Ogiame Atuwatse III formally presented the theme for this year’s convening, Africa: Defining Her Future, to former President Kufuor.
Photo: The Sun Nigeria
Discussions throughout the gathering focused heavily on moving past natural resource extraction. Speaking on behalf of President John Mahama, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah challenged participants to turn policy debates into verifiable actions.
Before we leave Accra, let each one of us identify one commitment we are prepared to finance, implement and account for when we meet next again.
Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff
Co-founder of Elevate Africa, Olori Atuwatsé III, emphasized that the continent possesses the resilience and talent required to address its own challenges, provided leaders prioritize homegrown solutions and institutional strength.
Jane Frances Acilo on Shifting the Narrative and Empowering Grassroots Communities
For Acilo, whose Kampala-based organization drives educational access, women’s and youth empowerment, and community wellbeing in Uganda, the Global Ambassador role bridges local fieldwork with high-level institutional support.
Photo: Nilepost
Africans must tell Africa’s story, with conviction, credibility, and pride. We must move beyond allowing others to define our continent and take a more active role in shaping the conversations, partnerships, and decisions that influence our collective future.
Jane Frances Acilo, Global Ambassador for Elevate Africa
She argued that true leadership is measured by tangible improvements in ordinary people’s lives rather than sheer political visibility. Her newly expanded platform aims to connect grassroots successes directly to continental networks capable of scaling their impact.
Our ambition should not simply be to change how the world sees Africa. It should be to demonstrate, through substance, innovation, and results, what Africa contributes to the world.
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Jane Frances Acilo, Founder of the Jane Acilo Foundation
Addressing the third edition of the convening, Dr. Osahon Okunbo, founder of The Osahon Okunbo Foundation (TOOF), urged leaders to look beyond the short-term commercial success of Africa’s creative industries.
Represented at the event by board member Nicole Asinugo, Okunbo stressed that artistic achievement must be matched by structural protections for creative ownership and cultural heritage.
What institutions have we built? What policies have we put in place? Who owns the work? Who has access to the opportunities? And what will the next generation inherit from what we are creating today?
Dr. Osahon Okunbo, Founder of The Osahon Okunbo Foundation (TOOF)
Okunbo noted that preserving cultural knowledge remains essential for unlocking the continent’s identity and future creative potential.
Omar El Sayed is Archyde’s World Editor, focused on international affairs, diplomacy, conflict, and cross-border political developments. He brings a global newsroom perspective to complex events and helps readers understand how regional stories connect to wider geopolitical shifts.
