Wave Mobile Money strengthened its position as a leading advocate for youth empowerment and financial inclusion during the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Business Brunch held in Kigali as part of the BAL Finals Week celebrations.
Hosted under the theme “Youth, Innovation and Financial Inclusion: Building the Next Generation of African Leaders,” the high-level event convened influential leaders from sports, finance, technology, investment and government to discuss how inclusive digital infrastructure can accelerate opportunities for Africa’s rapidly growing youth population.
The gathering highlighted the increasing intersection between sport, entrepreneurship, digital finance and economic participation across the continent.
Coming shortly after the Africa CEO Forum, the BAL Business Brunch reinforced Kigali’s growing reputation as a strategic hub for conversations shaping Africa’s future economy and leadership.
The panel featured prominent voices including Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa League; Coura Tine Sène, Regional Director and Head of Public Affairs at Wave Mobile Money; Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali; and Yves Iradukunda, Rwanda’s Minister of State for ICT and Innovation.
Discussions focused on how collaboration between financial institutions, policymakers, technology providers and cultural platforms can help unlock entrepreneurship, innovation and inclusive growth for young Africans.
For Wave Mobile Money, the event served as an opportunity to underscore the importance of accessible and affordable financial tools in enabling young people to actively participate in the digital economy.
“Africa’s youth are not waiting for opportunity — they are already creating businesses, building communities and shaping culture. What they need is financial infrastructure that is simple, trusted and built around their realities,” said Coura Tine Sène, Regional Director and Head of Public Affairs at Wave Mobile Money.
Wave noted that across the continent, young entrepreneurs and creators are increasingly driving new forms of economic activity, from digital commerce and content creation to small business development and community-led innovation. However, access to seamless financial services remains critical to sustaining this momentum.
The company’s participation in the BAL Business Brunch reflects its broader mission to expand financial inclusion by making mobile money services more accessible to underserved populations across Africa.
As the BAL Finals Week continues to attract global attention to Kigali, the event demonstrated how sport and business can combine to create platforms that inspire innovation, empower youth and accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.
by Andrew Shyaka
