The United Bank for Africa, UBA, Africa’s leading Pan-African bank, recently hosted a cocktail reception for US and African business leaders at the Essex House in New York City.

The event was held alongside the UNGA and right after the US – Africa Business Forum(USABF) which was organized by Bloomberg and the United States department of Commerce.

The Chairman of UBA, Tony O. Elumelu was host to over 200 global leaders with Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker as the guest of honour at the event.

Mr. Elumelu who had spoken at the USABF earlier that day after President Obama’s address, re –emphasised that America needs to expand and  scale up their policies in Africa and not necessarily make changes to what they are doing on the continent. He thanked the audience and especially Secretary Pritzker and the U.S. department of Commerce for their support to Africa.

Ms. Pritzker on her part, acknowledged and thanked her colleagues at the department of Commerce. She commended Tony Elumelu saying “Tony is an incredible entrepreneur and pivotal to U.S-Africa business relations. He is a great friend of the U.S.”

Both Mr. Elumelu and Ms. Pritzker raised their glasses to Africa.

Also in attendance at the event were, former president of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo; Senior Political Analyst, Professor David Gergen; Chairman US EX-IM bank, Fred Hochberg; President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Elizabeth Littlefield; U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank, Mathew Mcguire; CEO UBA, Kennedy Uzoka; former CNN anchor, Zain Verjee; Vice Chairman, corporate council on Africa, Robert Perry; Founding President Devex, Raj Kumar; CEO of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo; CEO, President of the Business Council for International Understanding, Peter Tichansky amongst others.