3.8%, to a casual observer, looks like steady progress. But to the entrepreneurs and investors descending on the Lagos Continental Hotel in 20 days time, it represents a “growth floor” that Africa must not only reach but break through.
As the Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2026 enters its final weeks of preparation, the theme “Africa Grow” has moved from a slogan to a mandate. Against the backdrop of the IMF’s latest projection of 3.7–3.8% economic expansion for the continent, the convention is being framed as a theater room where that math will be turned into reality.
The Keynote Speaker: Wale Edun and the Single Budget Year
The biggest news heading into the summit is the confirmation of Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, as a keynote speaker. His timing couldn’t be more critical. Having recently pushed for a 2026 fiscal cycle that avoids the “budget extensions” of the past, Edun is expected to address how Nigeria — the continent’s largest economy — plans to lead the 3.8% charge.
For the delegates, Edun’s presence is a signal. It’s an opportunity to hear directly about the 2026 – 2028 Fiscal Strategy Paper and how the federal government plans to de-risk the Nigerian market for foreign and domestic investors alike.
“At #ABC2026, we’re asking the critical questions: how can we accelerate growth, build the right foundations, and pursue the reforms needed for it to be both sustainable and inclusive?”
says Ogho Okiti, Founder and Convener of the ABC.
From Policy to the Deal-Room
While Edun handles the macro, the convention floor will be focused on the micro. The “Road to February” is paved with specific thematic streams:
- Fintech, Innovation, and Technology (FIT): Addressing the digital foundations of the “new” African economy.
- Power, Infrastructure, and Energy (PIE): Tackling the energy gap that remains the single largest hurdle to industrialization.
- Agriculture and Food Security (AFS): Exploring how to shield African food systems from the “Triple Threat” of conflict, climate, and cash constraints.
- Banking, Investments, and Capital (BIC): Navigating a high-interest world to mobilize local and international wealth.
- Jobs, Economy, and Trade (JET): Focusing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a driver for youth employment.
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): Ensuring that “Africa Grow” doesn’t come at the cost of the future.
The second day features intensive Masterclasses designed for professionals seeking practical, immediately applicable insights. These sessions on Capital Raising and Tax Optimization are where the “3.8% growth” actually happens, one business at a time.
As we count down to February 3rd, the message from Lagos is clear: 3.8% is a challenge, not a guarantee. With the Finance Minister at the podium and the continent’s brightest minds in the audience, the blueprint for 2026 is about to be drawn.
Convention Intelligence:
- What: Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2026
- Headline Speaker: Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance
- When: Feb 3–4, 2026
- Where: Lagos Continental Hotel
- Official Site: africabusinessconvention.com
The Road to February: #ABC2026 and the 3.8% growth challenge
3.8%, to a casual observer, looks like steady progress. But to the entrepreneurs and investors descending on the Lagos Continental Hotel in 20 days time, it represents a “growth floor” that Africa must not only reach but break through.
As the Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2026 enters its final weeks of preparation, the theme “Africa Grow” has moved from a slogan to a mandate. Against the backdrop of the IMF’s latest projection of 3.7–3.8% economic expansion for the continent, the convention is being framed as a theater room where that math will be turned into reality.
The Keynote Speaker: Wale Edun and the Single Budget Year
The biggest news heading into the summit is the confirmation of Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, as a keynote speaker. His timing couldn’t be more critical. Having recently pushed for a 2026 fiscal cycle that avoids the “budget extensions” of the past, Edun is expected to address how Nigeria — the continent’s largest economy — plans to lead the 3.8% charge.
For the delegates, Edun’s presence is a signal. It’s an opportunity to hear directly about the 2026 – 2028 Fiscal Strategy Paper and how the federal government plans to de-risk the Nigerian market for foreign and domestic investors alike.
“At #ABC2026, we’re asking the critical questions: how can we accelerate growth, build the right foundations, and pursue the reforms needed for it to be both sustainable and inclusive?”
says Ogho Okiti, Founder and Convener of the ABC.
From Policy to the Deal-Room
While Edun handles the macro, the convention floor will be focused on the micro. The “Road to February” is paved with specific thematic streams:
The second day features intensive Masterclasses designed for professionals seeking practical, immediately applicable insights. These sessions on Capital Raising and Tax Optimization are where the “3.8% growth” actually happens, one business at a time.
As we count down to February 3rd, the message from Lagos is clear: 3.8% is a challenge, not a guarantee. With the Finance Minister at the podium and the continent’s brightest minds in the audience, the blueprint for 2026 is about to be drawn.
Convention Intelligence:
Akinwande
ThinkBusiness Africa
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