African Business Stories (2026)

18/09/2026

𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗝𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗪𝗢-𝗢𝗟𝗨 𝗧𝗢 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗔𝗧 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭

The future of African business will be shaped not only by what entrepreneurs build, but also by whether public institutions create the conditions for those businesses to succeed.

We are pleased to announce that Governor 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗷𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗼-𝗢𝗹𝘂 , Executive Governor of Lagos State Government , will join us at ABS Live in New York.

As Nigeria’s commercial centre, Lagos presents an important case study in how state governments can move beyond policy commitments to build institutions and financing mechanisms that respond to the realities of entrepreneurs.

In a focused fireside conversation, Governor Sanwo-Olu will discuss Lagos State’s approach to SME financing, what its implementation has revealed and which elements could be adapted by other states.

His participation brings an important public-sector perspective to this year’s theme, 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

African Business Stories
𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭
𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸

18/09/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲.

𝗔𝗱𝗮 𝗢𝘀𝗮𝗸𝘄𝗲 is the Founder of Agrolay Ventures and Nuli Foods, an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, where she chairs the Finance and Investment Committee, and a Board Member of AGRA.

𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲́-𝗢𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗶 is Managing Director and CEO of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment Limited. Her leadership has been pivotal in driving over $7 billion worth of pioneering and award-winning projects across electricity, transport and ICT services in emerging markets.

Guiding the conversation is 𝗗𝗿. 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗜𝗹𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗺𝗶, Managing Director of TopeIL Impact Advisory and former Managing Director, Emerging Markets at Procter & Gamble.

Together, they will examine how infrastructure investment can connect production to markets, strengthen regional trade and food access, and enable more African businesses to compete globally.

𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭
𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸

17/09/2026

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

As we count down to ABS Live, we are pleased to recognize some of the partners joining African Business Stories in convening this year’s gathering: VestedWorld, Cybastion and PromoEO.

We thank all our sponsors and partners for investing in this year’s convening.

Their partnership is helping create a space for serious conversations about how African businesses are built, financed and positioned to compete globally.

𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗧 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸

16/09/2026

𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔

𝗔 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Nigeria is preparing to return to FTSE Russell’s Frontier Market Index. At the same time, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has opened Africa’s largest IPO, with Chapel Hill Denham serving as joint issuing house and digital lead.

These developments point to a larger question: is Nigeria entering a new period of capital formation and how can that momentum finance a broader generation of significant Nigerian companies?

That question extends beyond landmark transactions. A deeper capital market should expand the possibilities for businesses across the financing continuum, including the women-led SMEs that form a vital part of Nigeria’s economy.

Bolaji Balogun , Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chapel Hill Denham, brings more than 30 years of experience in investment banking, investment management and company-building. His work has placed him at the centre of some of Nigeria’s most consequential transactions and efforts to mobilize long-term capital for businesses and infrastructure.

Guiding the conversation is Chinwe Egwim, Chief Economist at First Bank Group , whose work translates economic and market developments into intelligence that shapes investment and business decisions.

Together, they bring a market-maker’s and an economist’s perspective on what has changed, where investors now see opportunity and what Nigeria must do to translate renewed market confidence into capital for productive businesses.

𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮
𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗧 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸

12/09/2026

𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

𝗠𝗿. 𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗨 𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧

African Business Stories is proud to announce Mr. Admassu Tadesse, Group President and Managing Director of the Trade and Development Bank Group, as the recipient of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱.

During his tenure, PTA Bank evolved into TDB Group and grew from just over US$1 billion in assets in 2012 to more than US$10 billion by 2023. Today, TDB Group is an investment-grade African development finance institution financing trade, infrastructure and sustainable development across the continent.

Mr. Tadesse’s leadership has earned him the African Banker of the Year award twice, in 2019 and 2024.

This is more than a record of institutional growth. It is a record of building Africa’s capacity to finance its own development.

Under this year’s theme, 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, we are recognizing a leader whose work demonstrates what it means to build an African institution with the strength, reach and ambition to move the continent forward.

Mr. Tadesse will receive the award at 𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭 on September 22 in New York.

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝟵:𝟬𝟬–𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗧 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸

To request an invitation, email [email protected].

10/09/2026

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

As we count down to ABS Live, we are pleased to recognize some of the partners joining African Business Stories in convening this year’s gathering: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP , Corporate Council on Africa and Payaza.

Their partnership is helping create a space for serious conversations about how African businesses are built, financed and positioned to compete globally.

𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟵:𝟬𝟬–𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗧 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸

To request an invitation, email: [email protected].

09/09/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

𝗔 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.

One helped build two of Africa’s most consequential technology companies. The other is building payment infrastructure across 26 African countries using African capital raised in Nigeria’s capital markets.

𝗜𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘄𝗮 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗷𝗶 co-founded and led Andela and Flutterwave before establishing Future Africa to invest in the next generation of mission-driven founders. He also leads Talent Nation, an ambitious effort to build the world’s largest AI engineering workforce from Nigeria.

𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗶 𝗘𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘇𝗲𝗿 has drawn on more than 15 years in commercial banking to build Payaza into a payments infrastructure company operating across 26 African countries, with a focus on the governance, security and financial discipline required to build for scale.

Guiding the conversation is 𝗡𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶 𝗡𝘄𝗲𝗸𝗲, Partner at Akin, whose work across international trade, cross-border transactions and regulatory risk brings an essential perspective on what it takes to build beyond one market.

Together, they bring firsthand experience of the decisions behind building—what it takes to move from early promise to significant scale and what the next generation must do to create stronger, globally competitive African companies.

If you are building an African business, investing in one or shaping the environment in which these companies operate, this is a conversation worth making room for during UNGA week.

𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟵:𝟬𝟬–𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗧 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸

Attendance is by invitation. To request an invitation, email [email protected].

08/09/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

𝗔𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆-𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲?

Nneka Eze brings 17 years of experience working across African markets. She founded Dalberg’s Nigeria office and now leads VestedWorld’s investment in entrepreneurs and essential businesses often overlooked by traditional venture capital.

Nana Afoah Appiah has worked across the full investment cycle—from Goldman Sachs and Emerging Capital Partners to raising capital from African institutional investors and serving as Chief Investment Officer of Silverbacks Holdings. She also knows the founder’s side of the table as Founder of Amayi Foods.

Guiding the conversation is Anna Ekeledo, who led AfriLabs’ development into a network of more than 500 innovation hubs across 53 African countries and the diaspora.

Together, they bring a rare view of how capital is raised, where investors are finding opportunity, what creates conviction to invest and what businesses need as their financing requirements evolve.

If you are building an African business, deploying capital or shaping the institutions around either, this is a conversation worth making room for during UNGA week.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲
𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭
 Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | New York
Attendance is by invitation only. To request an invitation, email [email protected].

27/08/2026

𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗕𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝟴𝟭.

Under the theme 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, ABS Live will bring together founders, financiers, institutional leaders and policymakers for focused conversations on what it takes to build African businesses that scale, endure and compete globally.

We will also launch the ABS Founder Financing Guide: Nigeria Edition and present the 2026 Africa Champions Award.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026
9:00–11:00 AM ET
New York

Attendance is by invitation. Speaker announcements to follow.

African Business Stories

18/09/2026

18/09/2026

17/09/2026

16/09/2026

12/09/2026

10/09/2026

09/09/2026

08/09/2026

27/08/2026

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