Top economic leaders from across Africa and the world are set to converge in Abuja as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hosts the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum, with CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso and World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala leading discussions on the continent’s economic future.
The two-day forum, scheduled for July 29 and 30, 2026, will take place at the CBN Headquarters in Abuja under the theme, “Building Resilience Amidst Geoeconomic Uncertainties.”
Organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria in partnership with the Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), the event will bring together policymakers, central bankers, government officials, economists, development partners and business leaders from across Africa and beyond.
One of the major highlights of the forum will be a fireside conversation featuring Cardoso and Okonjo-Iweala, where they are expected to discuss how African economies can respond to rising global economic challenges, sustain reforms, strengthen regional integration and create long-term growth opportunities.
The forum will also feature keynote speeches from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kingsley Udeh. Their presentations are expected to focus on how fiscal, monetary and innovation policies can work together to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.
Other prominent participants include Indermit Gill, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics at the World Bank Group; Harinder Kohli, Founder and Chief Executive of the Emerging Markets Forum; and Professor Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University.
Over the two-day event, participants will deliberate on key issues affecting emerging economies, including macroeconomic stability, regional integration, cross-border payments, financial technology (FinTech), infrastructure development, foreign direct investment, technology transfer and artificial intelligence (AI).
Discussions will also examine the impact of food price inflation, monetary policy, inflation management and strategies for improving economic resilience in fragile and post-crisis economies.
According to the organisers, the forum is designed to promote meaningful dialogue on Africa’s most pressing economic challenges while identifying practical policy solutions that can support sustainable and inclusive growth across the continent.
They added that the gathering reflects the commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria and its partners to strengthening regional cooperation, encouraging evidence-based policymaking and advancing innovative ideas that will shape Africa’s economic future.
