The Woman Who Builds Bridges: How Cecilia Naadensua Quarshie Is Connecting Africa and the World
May 19, 2026
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She Speaks, She Is Power
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Nordic Africa Business Forum ( Panel Discussion) -
25May’26
Nordic Africa Business Forum
The 3rd Edition of the Nordic–Africa Business Summit & Prestigious Global Awards marked a powerful milestone in strengthening economic diplomacy, trade relations, and investment dialogue between Finland, the wider Nordic region, and West Africa. The high-level forum was expertly moderated by Cecilia Naadensua Quarshie, Founder of Ceci Educare Oy, whose leadership continues to bridge international business, diaspora engagement, and cross-continental cooperation.
The summit carried a clear and forward-looking theme focused on showcasing opportunities for SMEs, startups, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Finland and the wider Nordic region, while drawing valuable insights from ongoing Finland–Africa and Africa–Finland investment relations. Central discussions highlighted high-potential sectors such as innovation, education, technology, sustainable development, tourism, creative industries, and trade expansion.
A strong emphasis was placed on building sustainable and mutually beneficial trade partnerships between Finland and West Africa, with participants exploring practical pathways for collaboration, market access, business scaling, and long-term investment frameworks that support economic growth on both sides.
The summit featured distinguished speakers from diverse fields of leadership, governance, academia, faith, royalty, and international development, each contributing unique perspectives on economic transformation and global cooperation:
- Her Royal Highness, Queen Adabota Lydia Jaja of the Owu Kingdom, who shared insights on cultural diplomacy, leadership, and the role of traditional institutions in economic development and youth empowerment.
- Amara Doumbouya, who addressed emerging opportunities in cross-border trade and investment engagement across Africa and Europe.
- Member of Parliament Alhagie S. Darboe, The Gambia, who highlighted governance, policy frameworks, and the importance of international cooperation in strengthening economic ties.
- Dr. Otunba Adejare Rewane Adegbengro, who spoke on strategic investment, entrepreneurship development, and diaspora-driven economic growth.
- Pastor Israel Adebayo Olajumoke, who emphasised ethical leadership, community development, and social responsibility in business ecosystems.
- Amara Doumbouya is a Nordic–Africa investor with a strong focus on renewable energy, particularly solar power development across emerging markets and cross-continental investment structures between Europe and West Africa. His work is centred on advancing sustainable energy solutions while creating scalable investment pathways that support economic growth, energy access, and climate-conscious development.
The summit created a dynamic platform for dialogue between policymakers, investors, business leaders, academics, and diaspora representatives. It reinforced Finland’s growing role as a gateway for international collaboration and highlighted West Africa’s expanding potential as a strategic partner in global trade and investment.
The event concluded with a shared commitment to deepen Finland–Africa economic relations, support SME growth, encourage startup innovation, and strengthen investment pipelines that foster inclusive and sustainable development across both regions.
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