Cardoso, Okonjo-Iweala To Lead Talks On Africa’s Move To Tackle Global Economic Risks

• CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will headline the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum with a high-level dialogue on Africa’s economic resilience.

• Abuja will host policymakers, central bankers, ministers and global economic experts to examine practical responses to mounting geoeconomic uncertainties and global trade disruptions.

• Participants will discuss key issues, including inflation, monetary policy, regional integration, fintech, artificial intelligence, infrastructure financing and foreign direct investment.

• Organisers say the forum will promote evidence-based policymaking, stronger regional cooperation and innovative reforms to enhance Africa’s long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth.

July 26, () — 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 high-level discussions on Africa’s response to growing global economic uncertainties at the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum, scheduled to hold in Abuja on July 29 and 30, 2026.

The two-day summit, to be hosted at the CBN Headquarters, is being organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria in partnership with the Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA).

Held under the theme “Building Resilience Amidst Geoeconomic Uncertainties”, the forum will convene central bank governors, finance ministers, policymakers, development partners, business executives and renowned economists from Africa and around the world to deliberate on practical strategies for strengthening the continent’s economic resilience amid an increasingly volatile global environment.

The event comes as African economies continue to grapple with persistent inflation, rising debt burdens, geopolitical tensions, disruptions to global supply chains, tighter financial conditions and slower global economic growth.

Cardoso, Okonjo-Iweala Dialogue Takes Centre Stage

The major highlight of the forum will be a fireside dialogue between Cardoso and Okonjo-Iweala, who are expected to examine how African economies can sustain ongoing reforms, strengthen macroeconomic stability, deepen regional integration and unlock long-term growth opportunities despite mounting global economic challenges.

According to the organisers, the conversation will focus on practical policy responses that can help African countries withstand external shocks while positioning themselves to benefit from changing global trade and investment patterns.

The dialogue is also expected to explore how governments can strengthen institutions, improve competitiveness and accelerate economic transformation through closer regional cooperation.

The forum will feature 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.

Both ministers are expected to outline how coordinated fiscal, monetary and innovation policies can drive sustainable economic growth, improve productivity, attract investment and strengthen Africa’s competitiveness in the global economy.

Their participation reflects the growing recognition that economic resilience requires close collaboration between governments, central banks, research institutions and the private sector.

World Bank, Global Experts Join Discussions

Other distinguished participants expected at the summit 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; and Professor Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University.

They will be joined by senior policymakers, academics, development finance institutions, financial regulators and private-sector leaders from across Africa and beyond.

Over the two-day event, participants will examine a wide range of issues shaping the future of emerging markets, including macroeconomic stability, regional economic integration, cross-border payments, financial technology, infrastructure financing, foreign direct investment, technology transfer and artificial intelligence.

Discussions will also focus on food price volatility, inflation management, monetary policy transmission and policy responses for fragile and post-crisis economies.

Platform for Practical Policy Solutions

According to the organisers, the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum is designed to foster open dialogue on issues of strategic importance to emerging markets and developing economies while identifying practical, evidence-based policy solutions that can be adapted to the unique realities of individual African countries.

They said the forum underscores the shared commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Emerging Markets Forum and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa to strengthening regional cooperation, advancing evidence-based policymaking and promoting innovative solutions capable of enhancing Africa’s resilience to future economic shocks.

The organisers expressed confidence that recommendations from the summit would support stronger policy coordination, encourage reforms and contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the continent.

Background

The Africa Emerging Markets Forum has become one of the continent’s leading platforms for dialogue on economic policy, bringing together governments, multilateral institutions, central banks, academics and private-sector leaders to address emerging challenges facing developing economies.

This year’s edition comes at a critical time as African nations seek to consolidate economic reforms, stabilise their currencies, tame inflation, expand intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), accelerate digital transformation and attract greater investment amid heightened geopolitical tensions and an increasingly fragmented global economy.

For Nigeria, hosting the forum reflects the Central Bank’s growing role in shaping regional economic policy discussions and reinforces the country’s commitment to fostering collaboration, policy innovation and sustainable economic development across Africa.