Global investors, policymakers on Lagos to drive West Africa IMT

Regional and international investors, policymakers, development finance institutions and industrial leaders will converge in Lagos for the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing, Trade Summit & Exhibition, (West Africa IMT).

This is coming at a critical moment in the region’s economic evolution as West African governments pivot from macroeconomic stabilisation and trade reform to execution-focused industrial growth, manufacturing investment and job creation.

The summit, with the theme: “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity,”  is positioned as a policy-to-project platform, aimed at converting regional trade opportunities into factory-level investments, resilient value chains and measurable industrial capacity within the next 12–18 months.

The summit, designed as a high-level regional convening, the West Africa IMT brings together government, industry and finance to accelerate industrial transformation across the sub-region.

Through ministerial panels, country spotlights, technical sessions and investor roundtables, the summit will focus on policy and financing measures required to build trade-ready manufacturing capacity and resilient industrial systems.

Recent shifts in national and regional policy have heightened the urgency. In Nigeria, the Federal Government’s National Industrial Policy (NIP) unveiled in January 2026 reinforces the drive toward manufacturing competitiveness, value addition and industrial execution. At the continental level, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has moved from negotiation to implementation, with increasing emphasis on digital trade, industrialisation and practical delivery—decisively shifting the conversation from access to outcomes.

Confirmed participants include Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, alongside industry ministers from Benin, Senegal and Ghana. The summit will also host stakeholders from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Austria, China, India, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Canada, and more than 15 additional countries, underscoring growing international interest in West Africa as an emerging industrial and manufacturing hub.

West Africa IMT 2026 arrives at a critical policy inflection point. AfCFTA implementation timelines, persistent energy and logistics constraints, and limited access to medium-term industrial capital mean the next 12–18 months will be decisive in translating regional trade integration into on-the-ground production capacity.

The summit is structured to address these challenges directly through ministerial leadership panels, country spotlights, investor roundtables and technical workshops focused on regulatory clarity, risk mitigation and financing structures.

Programme discussions will prioritise four immediate action areas: aligning national industrial frameworks with AfCFTA market rules and rules-of-origin; securing reliable energy and gas solutions to underpin manufacturing competitiveness; mobilising blended finance and de-risking instruments for medium-scale manufacturers and industrial parks; and reducing cross-border trade transaction costs through pragmatic regulatory reforms.

Delegates can expect a programme deliberately designed to move beyond aspirational dialogue. Ministerial roundtables will be paired with investor-focused panels and technical deep dives, ensuring political commitments translate into bankable project pipelines, implementable reforms and measurable outcomes for governments, financiers and industry participants.