Nigeria to host AfSNET 2026 investment conference
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday September 9, 2025 14:49
The signing ceremony was held during the Sub-Sovereign Business Engagement session on the sidelines of the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria. The agreement was formalised by Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, Prof. Benedict Oramah, and the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
The 2026 AfSNET Investment Conference will be hosted in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, and will bring together sub-sovereign leaders, investors, development partners, and stakeholders to explore investment-ready projects and strengthen regional integration.
Launched by Afreximbank in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat in 2021, AfSNET aims to put cities and state governments at the forefront of intra-African trade and development. The annual conference has become a platform to spotlight bankable projects, foster partnerships, and create opportunities for sustainable growth across the continent.
Speaking at the signing, Oramah highlighted the importance of empowering sub-sovereign governments in shaping Africa’s economic future.
“When Afreximbank launched AfSNET in 2021, our vision was clear: to amplify the voices of sub-sovereign governments in shaping economic policy, unlocking investment opportunities, and accelerating trade across Africa,” he said. “Development must be decentralised, originating where the needs are most pronounced in our cities, provinces, counties, and regions, and cascading outward to influence national and continental progress.”
AfCFTA Secretary General, Wamkele Mene, reinforced this view, stressing the role of local governance in driving integration.
“Africa’s integration and transformation will not be achieved from the top down alone. “It will be built from the ground up; in municipalities, states, and provinces where policy becomes reality in people’s lives. “AfCFTA provides the framework, IATF provides the marketplace, and AfSNET is the bridge between local power and continental impact.”
Governor Otu expressed optimism about the upcoming event:
“We are honoured to host AfSNET 2026 and showcase Cross River as a gateway to investment in Nigeria and West Africa. This event will catalyse economic growth, foster partnerships, and elevate our state’s profile on the continental stage.”
Preparations for AfSNET 2026 are already underway. The conference will feature plenary sessions, exhibitions, B2B meetings, and cultural showcases, providing a platform for dialogue and deal-making.
Since its launch, AfSNET has catalysed major projects, including funding for industrial parks and Special Economic Zones in Ogun State, Nigeria, support for deep seaport development in Cross River State, and bankability studies for pioneering initiatives such as the Nyanza Light Metals project in South Africa and Africa’s first blockchain-enabled essential medicines manufacturing facility in Kisumu, Kenya.