Cardoso, Okonjo-Iweala To Lead Dialogue At 7th 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 headline the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum in Abuja with a high-level fireside dialogue on Africa’s economic resilience.

The two-day forum, scheduled for July 29 and 30 at the CBN Headquarters, is being hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA).

The event, themed “Building Resilience Amidst Geoeconomic Uncertainties,” will bring together senior policymakers, central bankers, ministers, development partners, private sector leaders and economists from across Africa and beyond to discuss strategies for navigating an increasingly uncertain global economy.

According to the organisers, the dialogue between Cardoso and Okonjo-Iweala will examine Africa’s response to mounting global economic challenges.

“The Cardoso–Okonjo-Iweala fireside dialogue will explore how African economies can build resilience, sustain reform momentum, deepen regional integration and unlock long-term growth amid an increasingly fragmented global economy.”

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, highlighting the importance of coordinated policy responses.

“The ministerial keynote addresses underscore the importance of coordinated fiscal, monetary and innovation policies in advancing Africa’s economic transformation and long-term resilience.”

Other 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; as well as senior policymakers, academics, development partners and business leaders.

Over the two-day event, participants will deliberate on macroeconomic stability, regional integration, cross-border payments, financial technology, infrastructure, foreign direct investment, technology transfer, artificial intelligence, food price volatility, inflation and monetary policy transmission in fragile and post-crisis economies.

The organisers said the forum is intended to promote practical, evidence-based solutions to the challenges facing emerging markets.

“The 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum aims to foster open dialogue on issues of strategic importance to emerging markets and developing economies while identifying practical policy solutions that can be adapted to the unique circumstances of individual countries.”

They added that the event reflects a shared commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting sustainable growth across the continent.

“The forum underscores the shared commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria and its partners to strengthening regional cooperation, advancing evidence-based policymaking and promoting innovative solutions that enhance Africa’s resilience and support sustainable, inclusive economic growth.”