Diaspora, Development, and the Future: The Canada–Africa Forum 2025 at the Heart of Connection

The Canada–Africa Forum, led by Force Leadership Africain, has established itself as a major event for economic, cultural, and entrepreneurial collaboration between Canada and the African continent. Behind this ambitious initiative is Dr. Yaovi Bouard, founder and president of Force Leadership Africain, who embodies a clear vision: building lasting bridges between African diasporas, entrepreneurs on the continent, and North American economic players.

“We want to demonstrate the diaspora’s ability to open doors, to bring Canadian and African businesspeople together around a win–win partnership,” explains Dr. Bouard, as a guest on Festib TV.

Before the creation of the Forum, Dr. Bouard presided over the Club des Entrepreneurs et Professionnels Africains, the organizer of the Rencontres Internationales d’Affaires de Montréal. It was by uniting the forces of several associations — including the Organization of Congolese Professionals and an African women’s organization — that Force Leadership Africain was founded in 2006.

The objective: to bring together expertise and pool resources in order to increase the international impact of the African community.

Today, the organization is structured around several units: trade and investment, entrepreneurship, technology, among others. The trade and investment unit is responsible for organizing the Canada–Africa Forum.

The beginnings were modest. “We organized the first editions in universities because we lacked resources,” recalls Dr. Bouard. But over time, the initiative grew in scale. In 2024, the Forum took place at the Holiday Inn Centre-Ville hotel, supported by funding from Groupe 3737 — a symbol of growing institutional recognition.

The 2025 edition, the seventh of its kind, will be held on May 22 and 23, marking a decisive milestone for the organization. Three major developments set it apart:

The new Canada–Africa Partnership, announced in November 2024 in Toronto, where the African diaspora is now recognized as a strategic lever for cooperation.

The agreement signed with the African Union Commission, officially establishing the co-organization of the Forum by the pan-African institution and Force Leadership Africain.

The global economic context, which is pushing Canada to diversify its markets amid international trade tensions — strengthening its interest in Africa, a young and high-potential continent.

Dr. Bouard highlights a key fact: 60% of Africa’s population is under 25 years old. In five years, 40% of this youth will form the middle class of tomorrow — an essential economic driver.

However, he insists on the importance of mutual economic education.

“We educate Canadian businesspeople about the real opportunities in Africa, and we sensitize African entrepreneurs to the rigor and formality of the Canadian market,” he explains.

The Forum therefore aims to bridge the cultural and structural gap between two economic visions: the still-dominant informal economy in many African countries, and the institutional structure of the Canadian model.

The Forum will welcome three categories of participants:

Canadian and Quebec entrepreneurs,

Members of the African diaspora,

Official and private delegations from the continent.

The first day will be dedicated to thematic discussions and a project fair, where each participant will have a few minutes to present their initiative and seek a strategic partner.

“We want to go beyond speeches. The Forum must become a place for concrete encounters, where projects find financial or technical partners,” says Dr. Bouard.

Among the new highlights, the Forum will shine a light on “repreneurship” — a still little-known concept in African communities.

Instead of creating new companies, repreneurship consists of acquiring and developing existing ones.

The numbers speak for themselves:

85% of acquired companies survive beyond five years, compared to only 5% of newly created ones.

According to Dr. Bouard, this model offers African entrepreneurs a sustainable pathway into the Canadian economy, while generating wealth and employment.

Force Leadership Africain does not intend to limit itself to organizing the annual Forum in Canada. A project is underway to alternate editions between Canada and African countries, to strengthen direct ties and overcome visa-related barriers.

“We want the Forum to become a co-development movement — a true bridge between the North and the South,” affirms Dr. Bouard.

Originally from Togo, Dr. Yaovi Bouard holds a doctorate in management, trained in France before settling in Canada. An entrepreneur in the financial sector with IG Wealth Management, he is also the founder of the Boua Institute for Youth, an initiative dedicated to training young Africans in technology and entrepreneurship.

A family man, he passes on to his children a culture of effort and creation: lawyer, teacher, doctor, or entrepreneur — all have followed the path he paved.

His dedication was recently recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, honoring his contribution to Canada’s global influence and its relations with African nations.

In conclusion, Dr. Bouard delivers a powerful message to African youth and the diaspora:

“We are not on this earth just to pay bills. We must leave our mark — create, transform, and build. Africa must become the driving force of its own development.”

The Canada–Africa Forum 2025 will take place on May 22 and 23 in Montreal, both in person and online — a strategic gathering for all who believe in a balanced, sustainable, and visionary cooperation between Canada and Africa.