The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Africa Financial Summit (AFIS) have announced their readiness to bring financial and business leaders across Africa for the 6th AFIS Annual Summit scheduled to hold on November 3-4, 2026, in Luanda, Angola. This was disclosed by IFC in Lagos during a press briefing on September 30, 2026. The summit aims to foster financial integration on the continent and strengthen the financial sector to enable it to finance the real economy.
Christian Mulamula, Principal Country Head (Nigeria) at IFC, encouraged speakers at the event to bring perspectives that connect IFC's development mandate, the AFIS Pan African platform, and the experience of leading African financial institutions. He noted that the central question is how Nigeria can mobilize long-term capital at the scale required and channel it into businesses, infrastructure, and essential services that drive growth and create jobs.
The summit is built around six strategic pillars aimed at addressing climate transition, digital transformation, financial inclusion, and regulatory harmonization across the continent's financial sectors. More than 1,250 senior leaders from Africa's financial industry, including bankers, insurers, fintech founders, capital market experts, mobile money operators, policymakers, and regulators, are expected to attend the event.
Olivier Buyoya, Division Director, Nigeria and Central Africa, IFC, stressed the need to have the leaders of Pan African financial institutions in the room to provide their perspective. He noted that financial institutions in Africa lead by their size and innovation, and it's essential to bring that innovation to Africa.
Hicham Al Marabet, AFIS Director, said the purpose of the event is to foster financial integration on the continent and strengthen the financial sector to enable it to finance the real economy. He noted that the AFIS is evolving from being just a summit to becoming a partnership-making platform.
Dafe Oraka, IFC Principal Investment Officer, said AFIS is an annual event for shaping the continent's financial future and job creation. He noted that the event will bring financial leaders together to consider how the sector can acquire skill, reach, and expertise to mobilize private capital for job creation and support Africa's next phase of development.
Elizabeth Oguegbu, Group Head of Financial Markets & Funding at Access Bank, raised the need for investments in infrastructure but harped on attendant challenges with the transaction. She noted that most times, it's not about the nature of the transaction but about what can be done and which partners can be worked with.
Key points
- The 6th AFIS Annual Summit will be held in Luanda, Angola, from November 3-4, 2026.
- The summit aims to foster financial integration on the continent and strengthen the financial sector.
- More than 1,250 senior leaders from Africa's financial industry are expected to attend the event.
