SME Africa 2025
Date: June 24 & 25, 2025.
Venue: Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos.
About #SME2025
Africa economies have suffered signficant and serial economic shocks since 2020. Indeed, many African economies have not returned to levels of GDP before 2020. They have also not returned to the growth trajectory of the early 2010s. The shocks – Covid 19 pandemic, the Russian / Ukraine war, and tightened financial conditions – amplified the already weak and slow economic growth of the late 2010s.
So, it has been four turbulent and devastating years for the continent, made worse by the staggering costs of living crisis the continent has since in more than two decades. For instance, in 2020, more than 50% of financial support given by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) came to Africa. Following Covid – 19, five countries received emergency funding – Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Nigeria, and South Africa. In addition, four sovereign countries on the continent – Ethiopia, Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi, have pursued debt restructuring under the G20 common framework. In the context, it is difficult for government officials, policy makers, business and thought leaders not to fear if this is a return of the economic conditions of the 1980s and 1990s.
However, progress is being made in relation to trade through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Also, despite tightened financial conditions, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, and Benin raised US $4.5 billion in Eurobond in the last year, albeit at high interest rates. Nigeria is poised to approach the market as at the time of compiling this brochure.
For Africa to resume the strong growth trajectory of the 2000s, it requires significant investment. This is the motivation for AFRICA INVEST. What is nature of investments required? In what sectors are those investments required? What is the levels of investments required? How will these investments be funded? Given weak fiscal conditions in many African economies, how can public investments be made? Given tightened financial conditions, how best to managed deficits and debts?
Please join Africa government, business, and thought leaders at the #SME2025. I look forward to welcoming you.
Dr. Ogho Okiti Convener, Africa Business Convention
Main events at SME 2025
The main event will feature executive conversations with top government officials, keynote presentations and thought leadership sessions by experts, policymakers, business leaders and innovators with the purpose of proffering solutions to the Africa’s economic problems.
Side events at SME 2025
The side events will feature special activities and sessions tailored to fit participants’ varying interests, ranging from investment opportunity expo, deal brokerage, smart projects, products and services exhibition, ideas and innovation pitching, media chat to regional investment fora.
About #ABC2024
The Africa Business Convention (ABC) is a premier business convening for business leaders, governments, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs across Africa and beyond.
If you have any measure of interest in Africa, the following questions may also interest you: How well is Africa connected today for the ease of trade, investments, migration and security? Are Africa’s economies and its people strategically connected for prosperity?
#ABC2024 with theme – Africa Connected, is about the nature of exchanges among African countries and between the rest of the world, how these exchanges facilitate and help Africa’s growth and prosperity and how they can be improved to facilitate greater level of growth and prosperity. Ultimately, Africa Connected is about the 1.3+ billion people of Africa and how they engage among themselves and with the rest of the world.
To connect, explore, showcase and develop your Africa opportunities, we are glad to invite you to join other African and non-African governments and businesses, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, development partners and the diplomatic community at the Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2024. It promises to be a melting pot for Africa’s biggest deal makers, investors, business shapers and governments.
For greater impact and result, ABC 2024 events are broken into two – the main and side events
We heard you! Participation in #ABC2024 is now free! However, individuals and organisations are invited to register to attend.
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Main Events
The main events will feature executive conversations with leaders in government and business, keynote presentations and thought leadership sessions by experts, policymakers and innovators with the purpose of creating greater values and exploring shared opportunities in Africa.
Side Events
The side events will feature special activities and sessions tailored to fit participants’ varying interests ranging from investment opportunity expo, deal brokerage, smart project exhibition, ideas and innovation pitching, media sideshow, to region-and country-focused events.
Why should you attend?
Africa Business Convention 2025 is primed to welcome an array of global thought leaders in business, politics, government, finance, policy and development etc, with the purpose proffering solutions to Africa’s economic issues while exploring opportunities on the continent. Delegates will from among:
- Business Leaders across Africa.
- Central Bank Governors.
- Ministers of Trade & Investments.
- Government officials saddled with the responsibilities of creating or implementingpolicies that would impact on businesses and the economy.
- Trade Missions.
- Chambers of Commerce.
- Trade Associations.
- Development Agencies and Organisations.
- Foreign Missions.
- Investors and innovators.
- Business Managers and Executives faced with making key decisions that will impact ontheir organisations’ performance.
- Established and Budding Entrepreneurs.
- Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors.
Highlights of past events
Side Events
The side events will feature special activities and sessions tailored to fit participants’ varying interests ranging from investment opportunity expo, deal brokerage, smart project exhibition, ideas and innovation pitching, media sideshow, to region-and country-focused events.
ABC 2024 Speakers
Partner Speakers
Speakers
Upcoming Events
June 2025
The Small and Medium Enterprises, SME is platform for all things #SME. It is designed as the largest of all the Conventions. The main attraction and difference going forward will be to have sizeable number of #policy makers. #Government officials, #legislators, #executive governors, #central bank governors, #Presidents etc. in addition, to have #artitsts, #artistperdformance #party #public figures #record breakers #policy #advocacy #monitoring #reports
September 2025
The C-suite Africa is platform for all things #SME. It is designed as the largest of all the Conventions. The main attraction and difference going forward will be to have sizeable number of #policy makers. #Government officials, #legislators, #executive governors, #central bank governors, #Presidents etc. in addition, to have #artitsts, #artistperdformance #party #public figures #record breakers #policy #advocacy #monitoring #reports