ICN Leadership Summit set to unveil Congo’s glory, award changemakers

An e-poster of the upcoming ICN Global Summit and Awards slated for August 31, 2023 in DRC. The Founder of ICN Global, Sir Clyde Rivers, will be gracing the occasion. E-POSTER/Courtesy.
An e-poster of the upcoming ICN Global Summit and Awards slated for August 31, 2023 in DRC. The Founder of ICN Global, Sir Clyde Rivers, will be gracing the occasion. E-POSTER/Courtesy.
  • The event will be held in Congo in August.
  • It aims at unearthing potential opportunities in Congo.
  • iChange Nations will crown leaders of different calibers in the country for their input.
  • Top-notch leaders from across the globe will be attending.

The ICN Global Leadership Summit, a high-level international leadership and investment summit, will hold its second edition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on August 31, 2023.

This edition will be graced by the presence of the Founder and President of iChange Nations (ICN), Sir Clyde Rivers.

The summit will be a great opportunity for investors and international business leaders from across the globe to connect and network with the local government and business leaders and explore trade and investment opportunities in the DRC.

The theme of the summit will be inclined to: Explore potential trade and investment opportunities in the DRC.

About ICN

As clarified on their website, iChange Nations is a “Culture of Honor System: We are committed to bringing back the lost art of honor by building a Culture of Honor that recognizes individuals throughout the world who have exemplified extraordinary humanitarian efforts to effectively change nations.” 

They celebrate “people and organizations that believe every life is valuable and is created to bring a contribution to the world. ICN is the largest “building cultures of honor” network in the world.”

The world-renowned ICN leader has honored more than 30 heads of state, prime ministers and first ladies worldwide, Hollywood celebrities, philanthropists, humanitarians, and keynote speakers.

Summit and awards

The ICN Global Leadership Summit and Awards 2023, to be held in Kinshasa, DRC, will strive to showcase the host country’s potential and attract investors to instill growth.

Billy Issa, a Global Leadership Speaker, partner and organizer of the upcoming event, notes that it purposes to establish a culture of honor and civility in the DRC in order to preserve peace and accelerate the country’s sustainable development.

“The Global Summit and Awards will promote a model of leadership excellence and quality based on civility by rewarding, honoring and celebrating personalities who distinguish themselves by the quality of their impact and contribution to the world,” Issa explained to Scholar Media Africa during an exclusive interview.

Sir Rivers of iChange Nations will be in Kinshasa to honor world-class Congolese and international leaders.

More into the event

Moreover, citizens of the DRC who are distinguished in society will be recognized at the global level as they receive awards.

Issa explains that the choice of venue and theme for this year’s awards was premeditated, seeing that the DRC is the wealthiest nation in the world by its potential. 

Heads of state, prime ministers, first ladies, Hollywood celebrities, philanthropists, humanitarians, and keynote speakers worldwide have previously received international recognition and awards courtesy of ICN. PHOTO/Courtesy.
Heads of state, prime ministers, first ladies, Hollywood celebrities, philanthropists, humanitarians, and keynote speakers worldwide have previously received international recognition and awards courtesy of ICN. PHOTO/Courtesy.

“The country offers enormous business opportunities in areas such as agriculture, mining, oil, energy, tourism, infrastructure, education, and health, just to mention but a few. However, its full potential still remains untapped,” he explicates.

Issa is also the author of 7 Key Factors for Exponential Personal and Organizational Growth book.

During the interview recently, he stated the upside of DRC, that it could be a goldmine if well utilized.

“DRC is described by experts as a geological scandal with over 80 million hectares of arable land, the second biggest river and forest in Africa and the Hydroelectric dam of Inga, which can provide electricity for the entire Africa,” noted Issa.

This high-profile event will feature the participation of Dr. Rosalia Arteaga, former Head of State and first female President of Ecuador and candidate for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations.

Billy Issa Leadership International

The global leadership speaker and delegate for DRC at the Global Chamber of Business Leaders (GCBL) started a partnership with ICN in 2021 after being awarded by the institution in June.

An e-poster about Rosalia Arteaga, the first female Head of State of Ecuador. She will also be present in Kinshasa, DRC, for the Global Summit. E-POSTER/Courtesy.
An e-poster about Dr. Rosalia Arteaga, the first female Head of State of Ecuador. She will also be present in Kinshasa, DRC, for the Global Summit. E-POSTER/Courtesy.

“It started with my first women event called Inspire 50 Women Conference & Network. We partnered with ICN to award 50 top emerging African young women leaders and 50 top African women leaders based in DRC,” he explains.

He says that the two events were so successful they led to the launching of the first edition of the ICN Global Leadership Summit & Awards, formerly called ICN Leadership Breakfast, with the ICN Special Envoy, Dr. Ruben West, last year.

 Issa’s diverse skills are attributed to his exponential rise to the position of ambassador of the ICN Congress for Global Communication (ICNCGC).

This international organization brings world leaders to the table to discuss and raise awareness about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Transformational leaders network in last year’s ICN Summit in the Fleuve Congo Hotel, Kinshasa, DRC. PHOTO/Courtesy.
Transformational leaders network with ICN Special Envoy Dr. Ruben West in last year’s ICN Summit in the Fleuve Congo Hotel, Kinshasa, DRC. PHOTO/Courtesy.

As a leader who has accomplished an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Peace Education, Issa is particularly interested in promoting peace in the war-stricken areas of Eastern Congo.

“According to most UN Reports, the situation in the eastern part of DRC is caused by our neighbours who envy the riches of our country and create and equip armed groups to create insecurity to exploit our natural resources,” comments Issa.

However, he stated that the Congolese government is increasing efforts to denounce those practices and implement initiatives to restore peace and security in that part of the country.

Peace priority in DRC

Citizens of DRC continue to represent the distressing destinies bequeathed upon them by a war that has been raging for decades in the republic.

Millions of people have been killed, and approximately 5.6 million people have been displaced in the civil wars. 

This has led to a disconnect from foreign investors and cut diplomatic ties, among other barriers that wholesomely counter the country’s sustainability.

While commenting on the state of the nation ahead of the ICN Global Summit, Issa noted that the lack of leadership and good governance in the past has continued to bar the utilization of DRC’s immense wealth.

“With the new leadership, things are moving. That’s why we decided to launch this initiative to rebrand the country and mobilize the global business community to rediscover the great business opportunities that the potential of DRC offers,” said Issa.

He noted that his fight for peace entails warning and advocating before the international community to sanction countries that violate international resolutions, conventions, laws, and even the 2063 AU Agenda, which is Africa’s blueprint for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.

“We are about to build a new peaceful Africa where love, unity, civility and justice prevail. We encourage regional cooperation. We have to work towards a common vision for a common future to overcome division, violence, terrorism, tribalism, racism, and extremism. That’s the Africa we want for our and future generations,” he stated.

Mr. West enjoying the moments after awarding one of the change-makers in a past event. More change-makers in DRC will be awarded for their efforts. PHOTO/Courtesy.
Mr. West (second right) enjoying the moments after awarding one of the change-makers in a past event. More change-makers in DRC will be awarded for their efforts. PHOTO/Courtesy.

The peace ambassador also hinted that the ICN founder will deliver a message of peace, most importantly now that the republic prepares for general elections in December.

Africa’s sustainability needs

While alluding to potential hotspot countries such as the DRC, the leadership expert advised Africans to view their continent as a bloc and work on leadership and infrastructure, which collectively lead to economic growth.

“We have to see Africa as a country; it must be connected through modern infrastructures, and its market must benefit from top-priority African entrepreneurs. 

When Africa starts producing what it consumes and consuming what it produces, opportunities will grow to attract massive foreign investments. 

To make it possible, we need to invest in quality education and the compactivity of our human capital. Investing in the youth is key to a sustainable future,” he elucidated.

From Left: Amb. Winnie Joy, Dr. Juma Nashon, Ella Nyasuguta, Dr. Walter Okibo, Ennys Nolan, ICN Special Envoy Dr. Ruben West and Barbara H. Smith at the ICN awards ceremony on February 26, 2022 in Kisii, Kenya. ICN awarded many change-makers during the event. PHOTO/Courtesy.
From Left: Amb. Winnie Joy, Dr. Juma Nashon, Ella Nyasuguta, Dr. Walter Okibo, Ennys Nolan, ICN Special Envoy Dr. Ruben West and Barbara H. Smith at the ICN awards ceremony on February 26, 2022, in Kisii, Kenya. ICN awarded Dr. Okibo and several other change-makers during the event. PHOTO/Courtesy.

As the executive of the Global Chamber of Business Leaders Chapter in DRC, Issa explained that the summit will connect foreign investors and business leaders who are interested in local partnerships in businesses.

“We don’t just connect leaders with national businesses internationally through our global chamber but also through ICN. We will also work with the National Agency for Investment to help them to get the right information, the right connections both with the public and private sector,” he explained.

The leadership expert advised Africans to choose their leaders wisely, which is the key to fully opening and actualizing the continent’s sustainability vision.

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“A leadership that is visionary, servant, responsible, ethical and transformational to turn potential into wealth. Africa is the future of the world of tomorrow,” he says.

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Ms. Njoroge holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Moi University. She is a Digital Human-Interest Writer, particularly in the realms of Gender, Book Reviews, Environment and Climate Change. Email: wangarinjoroge213@gmail.com

1 COMMENT

  1. Très belle initiative, cela permettra à la République Démocratique du Congo à attirer les investisseurs étrangers pour le développement et la stabilité de son économie.

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