The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, and Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, will lead key conversations at the Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2026, scheduled for February 3–4 at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos.
Now in its fifth year, the Africa Business Convention has grown into one of Africa’s notable business-to-business (B2B) platforms, bringing together policymakers, investors, founders, and corporate leaders to discuss trade, capital, and economic growth across the continent.
Since its inception, the Convention has hosted over 8,700 delegates (including virtual participants) and 140 speakers from Africa and beyond, positioning it as a recurring meeting point for high-level economic dialogue and deal-making.
The 2026 edition is themed “Africa Grow”, reflecting the continent’s need for coordinated action as countries navigate global economic uncertainty, fiscal pressures, and domestic reforms.
This year’s conversations will centre on Africa’s emerging priorities, including fiscal stability, trade integration, food security, innovation, and public-private partnerships. According to the organisers, discussions will be organised across six strategic pillars: Agriculture and Food Security (AFS), Banking, Investments and Capital (BIC), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), FinTech, Innovation and Technology (FIT), Jobs, Economy and Trade (JET), and Power, Infrastructure and Energy (PIE).
With AfCFTA playing a central role in reshaping intra-African trade, Mene’s participation is expected to bring deeper insights into how policy frameworks can unlock cross-border commerce and industrial growth. Similarly, Edun’s presence places Nigeria’s fiscal reforms and economic direction firmly in focus.
Beyond the headline speakers, ABC 2026 will feature a wide mix of policymakers and industry voices. Confirmed speakers include Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Sanyade Okoli, Special Adviser to the President on Finance and Economy; and Dr. Olumide Abimbola, Founder and Director of the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI).
The organisers say this mix of regulation, policy, capital, and enterprise perspectives reflects the Convention’s goal of shaping practical economic outcomes rather than just high-level conversations.
Building a bridge between policy and enterprise
Speaking ahead of the event, Ogho Okiti, Founder and Convener of the Africa Business Convention, said the 2026 edition will strengthen ABC’s role as a platform that connects government, investors, and the private sector.
“The Africa Business Convention was created to serve as a credible bridge between government, capital providers, and the private sector,” Okiti said. “Over the years, we have intentionally built a platform that prioritises substance, outcomes, and partnerships that translate into real economic value for the continent.”
He noted that the timing of ABC 2026 is particularly important as African economies face both global volatility and local reform pressures.
“As African economies navigate global uncertainty and domestic reform priorities, coordinated action across public and private sectors has become imperative. ABC 2026 is designed to convene decision-makers who are shaping policy, deploying capital, and building enterprises that will define Africa’s growth trajectory in the years ahead.”
“The Convention is expected to deliver stronger business-to-business and government-to-business collaborations, increased cross-border investment flows, and scalable growth opportunities for African enterprises,” he added.
ABC 2026 will be supported by several media partners, including Businessfront (publishers of Techpoint Africa and Finance in Africa), Business Insider Africa, Nairametrics, MoneyLine with Nancy, and Arbitez.
