Bako Maxwell

Director, Chief Investment Officer at BMM Corporation

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Reflecting on nearly a decade with the @UN, supporting @UNICEF in building strategic partnerships and mobilizing resources. I am deeply grateful for what we achieved together.

With extraordinary colleagues and partners from the public and private sectors, including development finance institutions, we secured more than US$500 million for development programmes and emergency responses that transformed the lives of millions of children and families.

Now, at BMM Corporation, I bring the same conviction and purpose. We are directing venture and impact investments into Africa’s highest-potential sectors, collaborating with private investors and institutions to unlock the continent’s remarkable opportunities and accelerate sustainable progress.

The core mission endures: deploying capital to create enduring, positive change.
Proud of the legacy behind me, energised by the possibilities ahead.

Photo details: UNICEF Mali 2024 with then UNICEF Representative in Mali, Chief of Education, Ambassador of Japan to Mali and Head of International Cooperation at the Embassy of Japan in Mali.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

The @MiningIndaba, held last week in Cape Town under the theme “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships,” brought together industry leaders to address the key opportunities and challenges shaping African mining. Discussions spanned geopolitics, AI applications, and the critical role of strategic investments in critical minerals and rare earth elements, resources essential for powering the technologies and industries of tomorrow.

At BMM Corporation, we are actively building strategic partnerships and impact investments in Africa’s high-growth sectors. I greatly enjoyed meaningful conversations with existing and new partners, all focused on advancing sustainable, inclusive growth and unlocking the continent’s vast potential. The event reaffirmed that targeted investments and collaborative partnerships are indispensable for driving the next phase of Africa’s development.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Meeting with my Canadian & South African partners on the sidelines at the African Mining Indaba.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Africa imports over US$ 35 billion worth of food every year, despite having 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. The gap isn’t just big; it’s wide open and waiting for agric business players to step in.

This week at the #AAII2025 African Agri Investment Indaba in Cape Town, it was nice meeting from agriculture-smart tech to innovators turning smallholder farmers into agribusiness powerhouses.

My key takeaways:
Africa doesn’t need more charity; it needs more capital, better infrastructure, and bolder partnerships.
Soil health = wealth: regenerative practices are no longer “nice-to-have”; they’re the future of profitable, resilient farming.
The youths are ALL IN: startups blending AI, drone tech, and blockchain are rewriting the rules of African agriculture.

At BMM Corporation, we are funding agric businesses and supporting companies build strategic partnerships to scale up their operations and meet the demands of the continent.

Let’s keep building. The soil is ready. Who’s planting with us?

#InvestInAfricanAgri #FoodSecurity #InvestinAfrica

[G20 United States @g20org]

🇿🇦 President Ramaphosa successfully concludes the #G20 Summit, highlighting South Africa's commitment to inclusive global growth, sustainable development, and amplifying the voice of the Global South. A productive summit delivering real progress! #SouthAfricaG20 #GlobalCooperation

[The Presidency 🇿🇦 @PresidencyZA]

FAMILY PHOTO: G20 Leaders’s Summit

📍 Johannesburg, South Africa

#G20SouthAfrica 🇿🇦

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Félicitations à mon cher ami et frère, @ConfianceMbe, pour son leadership exceptionnel et son dévouement à attirer des investissements directs étrangers au Cameroun!

En partenariat avec l’entreprise chinoise Yicheng, Idriss a piloté un investissement historique : la pose de la première pierre d’une usine pharmaceutique ultramoderne au Cameroun — un méga-projet qui mobilisera plus de 550 millards de FCFA d’investissements.

Ce projet devrait créer plus de 3000 emplois directs et indirects pour les Camerounais, augmenter considérablement la production locale de médicaments essentiels, renforcer notre système de santé publique et réduire la dépendance aux médicaments importés.

En coulisses, Idriss a travaillé sans relâche — avec vision, compétence et un patriotisme pour mobiliser le lancement de ce projet. Voilà à quoi ressemble le vrai travail patriotique.

Le Cameroun a besoin de plus de jeunes leaders audacieux et compétents comme Idriss Confiance. Des individus qui ne se contentent pas de rêver de progrès, mais qui retroussent leurs manches et le réalisent concrètement.

Fier de toi, frère! Tu as démontré que détermination + compétence = transformation réelle.

[John Steenhuisen MP @jsteenhuisen]

Great to be part of the RSA delegation at the G20 as the first G20 on African soil gets underway at Nasrec. Particularly excited to be able to witness the adoption of the Ubuntu High Level Principles on food security, a product of the agriculture working group

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

As world leaders convene in #Johannesburg for the historic 2025 #G20 Summit, the first on African soil, Africa warmly extends an invitation to the world. Far from seeking aid or favors, we are presenting a growth opportunity: a transformative partnership in agriculture that promises shared prosperity.

In my latest editorial for the BRICS & Global South Magazine Special G20 Edition, distributed to all summit delegates, I make the investment case clear:

Africa holds
60% of the planet’s remaining uncultivated arable land
The world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce, ready to help feed 9 billion people by 2050
Proven on-the-ground results: farmers routinely tripling yields once given access to quality seeds, finance, and technology

With #SouthAfrica chairing the G20 and Brazil having made hunger and food security the centrepiece of its 2024 presidency, the political will exists as never before.

Now is the moment to move from pledges to partnerships. Africa’s farmers and agribusinesses need:
Predictable blended finance that crowds in private capital
De-risking instruments (guarantees, first-loss facilities, currency hedging)
Large-scale investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and digital extension services.

When public and private investors partner with African agriculture at scale, returns are measured not only in profit, but in global food security, job creation for millions of young people, and a decisive reduction in irregular migration.

The opportunity is here. The land is ready. The farmers are ready.
Will G20 leaders, development finance institutions (DFIs) and the private sector step up in Johannesburg and commit the catalytic funding that turns potential into reality?

#G20SouthAfrica #InvestInAfrica #FoodSecurity #BlendedFinance #BRICS #DFIs

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Congratulations to @alexanderdecroo on his appointment as @UNDP Administrator.

Your leadership comes at a crucial time for the UN system, as an ambitious reform is needed.

I am confident the EU-UNDP partnership will keep growing stronger, including through Global Gateway.

[Africa Tech Festival @africatechfest]

🌍 The final day of #AfricaTechFestival brought the continent’s brightest minds together one last time, and the energy never dipped.

From visionary keynotes to industry-shaping discussions, Day 3 crystallised the ambition driving Africa’s digital evolution.

#AfricaTechFest #AfricaTechFestival #TechForGood #DigitalInclusion #Innovation #ATF2025

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Last week was electric as I was immersed in the heartbeat of African innovation at @africatechfest in Cape Town. As Director & Chief Investment Officer at BMM Corporation, I had a great time connecting with brilliant founders tackling Africa’s toughest challenges—from fintech for the unbanked and agritech feeding millions to healthtech saving lives and artificial intelligence driving digital transformation.

I also had deep conversations with venture capital firms, development finance institutions, and multilateral corporations ready to deploy capital to scale these solutions.

Early-stage investment in Africa is where impact meets exponential returns. At BMM Corporation, we are proud to back the builders powering the continent’s tech leap.

If you’re building the future of Africa and need smart capital + active support, DM me or email us at [email protected]
https://t.co/pcJ1oZWtaq

[KHA. 🇸🇳 @khadiim5]

Imaginez-vous ?
🇸🇳 Le futur MÉTRO de
Dakar est en marche !
Un projet
ambitieux : relier toutes les villes du Sénégal !🇸🇳 ❤️

[The White House @WhiteHouse]

The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords have been SIGNED, marking a historic milestone in resolving border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. 🇺🇸🇲🇾🇰🇭🇹🇭

THE PEACE PRESIDENT.

[Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal]

🇺🇸🇲🇾 TRUMP POSES FOR PHOTOS - THEN DELIVERS TRADE, PEACE & A MINERAL POWER MOVE

He posed with ASEAN leaders in a classic geopolitical family photo fashion, but this time it wasn't just about camera flashes and staged smiles.

Behind the scenes, Trump brokered a string of headline-grabbing deals, including a U.S-Malaysia pact on critical minerals aimed squarely at loosening China’s grip on the global rare earth supply.

He also inked new trade deals with Cambodia and Thailand, plus a surprise peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, yes, an actual peace deal at what is usually a mostly economic summit.

The photo was captured shortly after Malaysia’s PM Anwar gave Trump a standing ovation-level thank-you, saying the world needs “leaders who promote peace strongly.”

Source: @RapidResponse47

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Just wrapped up an inspiring time at Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, where, as Executive Director of BMM Corporation, I had the privilege of contributing to a pivotal moment for shaping Africa’s energy future. Energy is the lifeblood of Africa’s progress.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Our commitment remains unwavering: to harness the power of innovation and collaboration to build a brighter, more resilient continent.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

An unstoppable force that powers communities, fuels dynamic industries, and ignites innovation for a sustainable tomorrow. At BMM, we are not just participants but catalysts in this journey, delivering bold energy solutions that empower communities.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

Investing in Africa’s energy infrastructure is critical to support these initiatives, enabling scalable, resilient, and sustainable energy systems to meet the continent’s growing demands.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

To power Africa's future, energy serves as the indispensable cornerstone, fueling dynamic economic progress and unlocking boundless potential. I’m at the Africa Energy Technology Conference 2025 in Accra, Ghana, engaging in high-level discussions with government ministers.

[Bako Maxwell @bako_maxwell]

sustainability, and advanced technologies to boost efficiency and expand access. we discussed actionable strategies for partnerships for scaling up energy access and fostering collaboration across the continent’s energy value chain.