Good evening everyone.
My name is Eve Tuwilika Kayofa. I am a contractor and entrepreneur operating in the UAE through FTG Group.
Our company supplies and exports premium marble, tiles, postline, and construction materials, and we also operate across real estate, property management, and commercial furniture supply.
But before I was a contractor or businesswoman… I was simply an African entrepreneur trying to find my place in a very competitive market.
Like many of us here, I came with ambition, ideas, and the willingness to work hard.
But I also quickly realized something important…
We were many… but we were not connected.
Across the UAE there are thousands of African entrepreneurs.
But many of us are doing it alone.
Alone when navigating regulations.
Alone when looking for investors.
Alone when trying to enter larger markets.
And sometimes…
we don’t fail because we lack talent.
We fail because we lack access, visibility, and strong networks.
This is why the UAE African Business Collaboration Platform was created.
Not just as another networking group…
But as a structured ecosystem designed to support African businesses to grow, collaborate, and gain real economic influence in the UAE.
Creating a community where:
African businesses support each other growth.
Where we share opportunities instead of competing blindly.
Where investors and institutions recognize the strength of African enterprises.
Creating a community where African businesses in the UAE not just surviving…
But leading industries, creating partnerships, and influencing markets.
As members, we stand to benefit all that business need to succeed,
let me mention but few:
Let me end with something powerful.
“Africans are known for resilience, innovation, and hard work.
But imagine what happens when we combine that with structure, collaboration, and shared opportunity.
This platform is not just about business only.
It is about changing the narrative of African entrepreneurship in the UAE.
Is time we moved from isolated businesses…
To a powerful economic community.
And that journey begins with us today.
“As we build this community, it is important to recognize that every meaningful vision begins with someone who sees possibilities where others see challenges.
The UAE African Business Collaboration Platform exists today because one individual believed that African businesses in the UAE deserved more than operating in isolation — they deserved structure, collaboration, and a platform that would elevate their collective impact.
A man who understood that when African entrepreneurs come together, we do not just build businesses — we build influence, opportunity, and long-term economic value.
It is therefore my honour to introduce the Founder and the President of the UAE African Business Collaboration Platform, the visionary behind this initiative, a leader committed to strengthening African enterprise in the UAE.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Seun Ashimolowo, the man behind the vision.” He is a Certified Business Management Consultant and Growth Expert for over 2 decade
Ladies and gentlemen, the future of African business collaboration in the UAE begins with leadership and vision.
Please welcome Mr. Seun Ashimolowo.