Cardoso, Okonjo-Iweala to headline Africa Emerging Markets Forum

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, and the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will lead discussions at the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum scheduled to hold in Abuja on July 29 and 30, as policymakers intensify efforts to strengthen Africa’s economic resilience amid growing global uncertainties.

Hosted by the CBN in collaboration with the Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), the forum will bring together central bankers, finance ministers, development institutions, private sector executives and leading economists to examine policy responses to rising geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation and macroeconomic challenges.

The highlight of the two-day event will be a fireside dialogue between Cardoso and Okonjo-Iweala on the theme, “Building Resilience Amidst Geoeconomic Uncertainties,” where both leaders are expected to discuss strategies for sustaining economic reforms, deepening regional integration, strengthening trade and unlocking long-term growth across the continent.

The forum will also feature keynote addresses by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kingsley Udeh, who are expected to outline the government’s fiscal, monetary and innovation strategies aimed at supporting economic transformation.

Other high-profile participants include the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Indermit Gill; the Founding Director and Chief Executive of the Emerging Markets Forum, Harinder Kohli; the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Adamu Ahmed; alongside senior government officials, academics, development partners and business leaders from across Africa and beyond.

Deliberations during the forum will focus on macroeconomic stability, regional economic integration, cross-border payment systems, financial technology, infrastructure financing, foreign direct investment, technology transfer, artificial intelligence, food price volatility, inflation management and monetary policy transmission in emerging and post-crisis economies.

According to the organisers, the gathering is designed to foster practical policy dialogue on issues affecting emerging markets while identifying solutions that can be adapted to individual African economies.

The forum also underscores the commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria and its partners to strengthening regional cooperation, promoting evidence-based policymaking and advancing reforms that support sustainable and inclusive economic growth across Africa.