Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
A high-level fireside dialogue between the Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN), Mr Olayemi Cardoso, and the Director-General of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will headline the 7th Africa Emerging
Markets Forum, taking place at the CBN Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday,
July 29, and Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Emerging
Markets Forum (EMF) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa
(CSEA), the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum will convene senior policymakers,
central bankers, ministers, development partners, private-sector leaders and leading
economists from Africa and around the world to examine practical policy responses
to an increasingly uncertain global economic environment.
Held under the theme “Building Resilience Amidst Geoeconomic Uncertainties,” the
7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum will be headlined by the Cardoso–Okonjo-Iweala
fireside dialogue, which will explore how African economies can build resilience,
sustain reform momentum, deepen regional integration and unlock long-term growth
amid an increasingly fragmented global economy.
The 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum will also feature ministerial keynote
addresses by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr
Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kingsley
Udeh, underscoring the importance of coordinated fiscal, monetary and innovation
policies in advancing Africa’s economic transformation and long-term resilience.
Other distinguished 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;
Professor Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University; alongside
senior policymakers, academics, development partners and business leaders from
across Africa and beyond.
Over two days, participants will examine a wide range of issues critical to the future
of emerging markets, including macroeconomic stability, regional economic
integration, cross-border payments, financial technology, infrastructure, foreign direct
investment, technology transfer, artificial intelligence, and the interconnected
challenges of food price volatility, inflation and monetary policy transmission in fragile
and post-crisis economies.
According to the organisers, the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum aims to foster
open dialogue on issues of strategic importance to emerging markets and
developing economies while identifying practical policy solutions that can be adapted
to the unique circumstances of individual countries.
The Forum underscores the shared commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria and
its partners to strengthening regional cooperation, advancing evidence-based
policymaking and promoting innovative solutions that enhance Africa’s resilience and
support sustainable, inclusive economic growth.
