The path to changing people's ideas about Africa starts in our grocery shelves and in our homes. Whether recognizing that coffee was born in Ethiopian and that 18 countries in Africa produce some of the world’s best coffee or that cocoa from Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana constitute 70% of the world’s supply, we need to see, embrace and appreciate nutritious and diverse products from the different parts of Africa. Over the past 30 years, sushi has transformed the way the world views Japan. The same can happen for Jollof rice from Nigeria, Teff from Ethiopia or Rooibos from South Africa. Now, we’ve found that changing peoples’ views can take longer than expected, but perseverance is the key. Jay Rosenzweig has found the same over the past 18 years as he tries to change corporate views when it comes to women leaders, who are just as good or better than male business leaders.

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Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, an Expert on Social Innovation, is the Founder & Executive Chair of African Food Changemakers which is Enabling Entrepreneurs in the Agrifood Ecosystem to Scale Sustainable Businesses by Providing a Community of Support, Data, Funding, Training, Market Linkages & Enhancing their Visibility