The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, and the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will headline the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum with a high-level fireside dialogue at the CBN Headquarters in Abuja on July 29 and 30, 2026.
The forum, hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), will bring together senior policymakers, central bank governors, government ministers, development partners, private-sector leaders, and leading economists from Africa and beyond to explore practical policy responses to growing global economic uncertainties.
With the theme, “Building Resilience Amidst Geoeconomic Uncertainties,” this year’s edition will feature a keynote conversation between Cardoso and Okonjo-Iweala on strategies for strengthening Africa’s economic resilience, sustaining reform momentum, deepening regional integration, and unlocking long-term growth in an increasingly fragmented global economy.
The forum will also feature keynote addresses from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kingsley Udeh. Their presentations are expected to highlight the importance of aligning fiscal, monetary, and innovation policies to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.
Other notable participants include Indermit Gill, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics at the World Bank Group; Harinder Kohli, Founding Director and Chief Executive of the Emerging Markets Forum; and Professor Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University. They will be joined by senior government officials, academics, development partners, and business leaders from across the continent and around the world.
Over the two-day event, participants will deliberate on critical issues shaping the future of emerging markets, including macroeconomic stability, regional economic integration, cross-border payments, financial technology, infrastructure development, foreign direct investment, technology transfer, artificial intelligence, as well as the challenges of food price volatility, inflation, and monetary policy transmission in fragile and post-crisis economies.
According to the organizers, the forum aims to promote meaningful dialogue on issues of strategic importance to emerging markets while advancing practical, evidence-based policy solutions tailored to the unique needs of African economies.
The event underscores the shared commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria and its partners to strengthening regional cooperation, fostering sound policymaking, and driving innovative solutions that support sustainable, inclusive economic growth across Africa.
