About us
reFocus Afrika is a Pan-Afrikan organization with a vision to identify, develop and maximize potentials on the continent by connecting opportunities to resources. We aim to support global initiatives by implementing transformative projects and programs focusing on agriculture, clean water, energy, housing, education, sports, training, and business development.
Dr. Lisa Acogny
President & Co-Founder
Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Dr. Lisa Sylvester Acogny is a distinguished multi-ethnic American, French, and Senegalese leader whose life and career reflect an extraordinary commitment to Africa’s growth and global partnerships. A mother of five, she has lived on five continents and visited thirty-six African countries, embodying the spirit of cultural diplomacy and international engagement. Her educational journey began at Tennessee State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), which provided her with the spiritual foundation and motivation to pursue a lifelong mission of improving human existence.
Dr. Acogny’s professional career spans over three decades across multiple fields. She first distinguished herself as a Funeral Director and Embalmer, serving families in America, Europe, and Africa with compassion and dignity for more than 30 years. Complementing this, she built over 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, creating initiatives that focus on education, community development, and empowerment. She is the Co-Founder and President of Race2Build Afrika Inc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilize the global community to invest and contribute to the development of Afrika and to holistically address the racial barriers and disparities through cultural exchange and business internalization. With a profound love for education, she co-founded Knowledge-First International Academy, headquartered in Houston, Texas, through which she has spearheaded the establishment of campuses in fifteen African countries, providing quality education and opportunity for the next generation of African leaders.
Her pan-African impact extends to her role as an Elder of the Six Regions African Diaspora Alliance in Tanzania, where she actively contributes to uniting Africans on the continent and in the diaspora. She also serves on the Executive Board of Osiri University in Lincoln, Nebraska, where her insights support the institution’s mission of global education and leadership. As Co-founder and President of reFocus Afrika Group, Dr. Acogny leads one of the continent’s most dynamic pan-African investment organizations, with a presence in over twenty-five African countries. Under her leadership, reFocus Afrika Group bridges global investors with Africa’s vast opportunities, driving projects in infrastructure, capital financing, social programs, and government consultancy.
She brings to this role a rare combination of vision, operational expertise, and a deep passion for empowering African people and communities.
Dr. Acogny is also a proud member of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., through which she continues to champion women’s empowerment and advocacy. Her life’s mission is guided by a dream of democratizing wealth for communities in Africa by using knowledge as a transformative tool for opportunity and inclusion. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, she was honored with the United States Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, a prestigious acknowledgment of her service, leadership, and dedication to humanity.
A visionary leader, a cultural bridge-builder, and an unrelenting advocate for Africa’s transformation, Dr. Lisa Sylvester Acogny embodies the values and aspirations of reFocus Afrika Group and serves as a beacon of inspiration to all who seek to create meaningful impact across the continent.