present the keynote address at the 2016 Hope Global Forums conference
holding in the second week of January in Atlanta, United States.
The Hope Global Forum is an annual event that convenes thousands of
thought leaders, business professionals and public policy officials
from many countries to brainstorm on ways of advancing the social and
economic well-being of all people around the world. The 2016 meeting
focuses on broadening inclusiveness for global economies.
As the key note speaker, Jonathan succeeds President Bill Clinton who
performed similar role at the 2015 event which gathered over 3, 000
leaders from 40 countries and was broadcast and livestreamed
internationally.
The letter of invitation jointly signed by Amb. Andrew Young,
Operation Hope Global spokesman, Honourable Kasim Reed, Mayor of
Atlanta and John Hope Bryant, Operation Hope chief executive, urged
the former President to lend his support to an entrepreneurship
mentoring programme, by sharing his experience in office with a wider
global audience.
It read: “As some one recognized for his leadership and vision in
Nigeria and abroad, we are personally requesting your attendance. It
is important for us that your influential voice and perspective be
included as we drive a global conversation.”
The letter described the purpose of the Forum as seeking to
restructure global economies to be able extend the benefits and
opportunities of free enterprise to everyone.
“We invite you to join Fortune 500 CEO’s, private investors, financial
leaders and government officials to connect and collaborate on this
vision.
“With the theme ‘Reimagining the Global Economy: Inclusive Economics’,
the Annual Meeting is set against the backdrop of the Martin Luther
King Holiday weekend and gathers leaders from government, community
and the private sector to outline a vision for the modern global;
economy. A vision where the undeserved, working poor and struggling
middle class are viewed as untapped assets for economic growth,
entrepreneurship and job creation.
“The powerful history of Atlanta as the ‘Cradle of the Civil Rights
Movement’ serves as a catalyst for our gathering, highlighting the
unfinished work of economic self-reliance launched by Dr. King prior
to his death. We will honour that legacy with a series of activities
for our guests, including ‘white glove’ viewing of Dr. King’s papers.
The confirmed guests list includes Apple chief executive, Tim Cook,
United States Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, former Treasury Secretary
Robert Rubin and Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been providing financial dignity and
economic empowerment to over 2.2 million individuals worldwide.
Through its work, HOPE turns check cashing customers into banking
customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small
business owners and minimum wage workers into living wage consumers.