Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will headline the seventh Africa Emerging Markets Forum, where they are expected to lead discussions on how African economies can navigate growing global economic uncertainty.
The two-day forum will hold on July 29 and 30 at the CBN headquarters in Abuja. It is being organised by the apex bank in collaboration with the Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA).
With the theme, ‘Building Resilience Amidst Geoeconomic Uncertainties’, the event will bring together policymakers, central bankers, ministers, development partners, economists and private sector leaders to explore policy measures aimed at sustaining economic growth and strengthening resilience across Africa.
According to the organisers, the fireside dialogue between Cardoso and Okonjo-Iweala will examine how African countries can sustain reform momentum, deepen regional integration and unlock long-term economic growth despite rising geopolitical tensions and an increasingly fragmented global economy.
“The 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 organisers said in a statement.
They added that the forum reflects the shared commitment of the CBN and its partners to promoting regional cooperation, evidence-based policymaking and innovative solutions that support sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The event will also feature keynote addresses by:
- Taiwo Oyedele – Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
- Kingsley Udeh – Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
Other expected 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
- Adamu Ahmed – Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University
- Senior policymakers, academics, development partners and business leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Participants are expected to deliberate on a wide range of issues, including:
- Macroeconomic stability
- Regional economic integration
- Cross-border payments
- Financial technology (FinTech)
- Infrastructure development
- Foreign direct investment
- Technology transfer
- Artificial intelligence
- Food price volatility
- Inflation
- Monetary policy transmission in fragile and post-crisis economies.
