Comedian and filmmaker AY Makun has shared his pride in Africa’s representation at the 2025 Qatar Economic Forum (QEF), highlighting the influential presence of businessman Tony Elumelu.

On Wednesday, AY posted a video compilation of moments from the event on his Instagram page, expressing his excitement about Africa’s rising image globally.

He wrote, “I felt so proud as a Nigerian to have been part of the Qatar Economic Forum and to see @tonyoelumelu representing Africa so positively on such a prestigious platform.

“Can’t wait for the entertainment and sports conversations. It’s time to completely eradicate the negative narratives often associated with the African continent. #weareblessed.”

The Qatar Economic Forum, which began on Tuesday and is to end on Friday in Doha, brought together over 1,500 global leaders, including heads of state, CEOs and influential figures across finance, technology and policy.

The 2025 edition explored key themes such as geopolitics, globalization, trade and the future of global business.

Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), took part in a panel titled “Banking 2025: The New Growth Playbook,” alongside Tan Su Shan, CEO of DBS Bank Group. The session, moderated by Bloomberg Television’s Jennifer Zabasajja, focused on how technology, credit markets and risk dynamics are reshaping global banking.

Elumelu spoke on the importance of strengthening ties among countries in the Global South, particularly in trade and finance.

“We have operations in the GCC because, in the Global South today, intra-South cooperation is very important. Trading amongst ourselves, facilitating payments among ourselves is very important, attracting global capital,” he said.

He also highlighted Africa’s youthful population and called for investments that would bring mutual benefits.

“Africa is full of young, energetic people. It is in the best interest of the world to invest in Africa so we can prosper together,” he added.

Elumelu also outlined the need to mobilize domestic savings, attract private global capital, enhance Africa’s capacity to transact swiftly and independently, and promote a model he termed “Africapitalism,” where the private sector plays a leading role in transforming the continent.