AfDB, IFC back CEO leadership forum

The 2026 African CEO Leadership Forum scheduled to be held in Lagos has received backing from major multilateral institutions, including the African Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation, alongside support from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.

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Organisers said in a statement on Tuesday that the endorsements reflect growing institutional alignment around the need for stronger private-sector leadership in driving Africa’s economic transformation.

The forum, convened by the African Leadership Business School, is themed ‘Leading Africa Forward: Bold Vision, Lasting Impact’ and is designed to bring together chief executives, policymakers, investors and development partners to discuss pathways for sustainable growth across the continent.

In a statement, the convener said the 2026 edition reflects “a shared commitment to advancing leadership that drives meaningful and measurable impact.”

ALBS Chief Executive Desmond Esorougwe said the forum has evolved into one of Africa’s key platforms for high-level engagement between business and policy leaders.

“The African CEO Leadership Forum stands as one of the continent’s most influential annual gatherings, bringing together chief executives, boardroom leaders, policymakers, heads of state, and global partners shaping Africa’s economic and governance future,” he said.

According to him, the forum is structured to move beyond dialogue towards actionable outcomes, with a focus on aligning leadership decisions with Africa’s long-term development priorities.

He said discussions at the 2026 edition will be anchored on five thematic pillars: economic resilience and macroeconomic stability; innovation and digital transformation; trade and investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area; sustainable development and climate leadership; and governance and leadership excellence.

The economic resilience track will focus on inflation, currency volatility, debt sustainability and capital mobilisation, while the innovation pillar will examine the role of fintech, artificial intelligence, agritech and healthtech in accelerating development.

Other sessions will explore opportunities arising from AfCFTA implementation, including regional integration and supply chain development, as well as the role of African businesses in the global green economy.

Organisers said the governance track will focus on strengthening corporate ethics, transparency and institutional accountability across both public and private sectors.

A key feature of the forum is its invitation-only structure, which organisers say is intended to ensure participation from senior decision-makers across business and government.

“This curated environment enables deeper engagement, meaningful dialogue, and direct access to decision-makers across sectors and countries,” Esorougwe said.

The forum also includes the Africa CEO Leadership Award, which recognises business leaders and organisations driving transformation in challenging operating environments. Organisers said the award is intended to highlight leadership excellence that often goes unrecognised on global stages.

The 2026 edition comes at a time when the African Continental Free Trade Area continues to expand, creating what organisers described as a unified market of more than 1.4 billion people and increasing the urgency for coordinated leadership across sectors.

According to ALBS, the forum is designed to serve as a bridge between policymakers and private-sector leaders, helping to reduce policy friction and improve investment conditions across African markets.

With endorsements from AfDB, IFC, AU and ECOWAS, organisers say the event is positioned as a strategic platform for shaping economic policy direction and strengthening cross-border collaboration.

The forum is expected to focus on turning discussions into commitments, with an emphasis on practical strategies to accelerate economic growth, improve governance outcomes and expand opportunities across the continent.