NEWS
Abia Set to Host AFRICANDO 2026 as Global Trade and Investment Conference Comes to Umuahia
The Abia State Government has announced plans to host the 2026 edition of AFRICANDO, a major U.S.–Africa Trade and Investment Conference and Expo aimed at connecting African businesses, governments and entrepreneurs with investors, business leaders, policymakers and institutions from the United States and other international markets.
The Pan-African investment and trade conference is scheduled to hold from November 17 to 19, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
AFRICANDO 2026 is being organised by the Abia State Diaspora Commission in partnership with the Foundation for Democracy in Africa and the Global Chamber of Commerce, with a strong focus on showcasing Abia State’s vast economic potential, promoting local enterprise and attracting international investment into the State.
The event was formally unveiled at a press conference held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the conference hall of the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Speaking during the unveiling, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD, described the decision to host AFRICANDO in Abia as a significant opportunity to expose local entrepreneurs and businesses to the global marketplace.
He said the State’s emergence as the host reflects growing international interest in Abia, particularly in the wake of the economic transformation, infrastructure development and increasing engagement with the global business community under the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
“This press conference is to formally unveil AFRICANDO 2026, as one of the foremost platforms for advancing commercial, investment and economic relationships between Africa and the United States.
“The 2026 edition represents an important opportunity to move conversations from trade promotion to actual transactions, investments and sustainable commercial partnerships,“ Pastor Ajagba stated.
The Chief of Staff announced that the theme of the conference would be “Deepening U.S.–Africa Commercial Ties in the Era of AfCFTA,” describing it as particularly timely as Africa continues to build one of the world’s largest integrated markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
According to him, the conference would go beyond discussions and ceremonial exchanges to create practical opportunities for businesses, investors and governments to establish relationships capable of translating into real economic outcomes.
Pastor Ajagba further described Abia’s hosting of AFRICANDO 2026 as strategic, noting that the State occupies a significant position in Nigeria’s manufacturing and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, the State Government has embarked on an ambitious programme of rebuilding infrastructure, strengthening institutions, improving the business environment and repositioning Abia as a destination for private capital.
“The decision to host AFRICANDO in Abia is therefore consistent with the administration’s determination to connect local enterprise with global capital and markets.
“Our objective is to demonstrate that sub-national governments can become active partners in international trade, investment promotion and economic diplomacy,“ Pastor Ajagba stated.
He assured prospective participants that the conference would be deliberately focused on measurable outcomes rather than merely serving as a platform for speeches and networking.
“The emphasis will be on Deals, Partnerships, Investments and Market Access. We expect businesses seeking capital to meet investors.
“Manufacturers seeking international markets should meet distributors and buyers. Investors seeking viable opportunities should encounter credible projects,“ Pastor Ajagba said.
The AFRICANDO 2026 conference is expected to focus on several key sectors with enormous potential for investment and international collaboration, including agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing and consumer goods, energy, financial services, healthcare, transportation and logistics, academic science and technology, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Participants are expected from Nigeria, other African countries, the United States, the Caribbean and several other parts of the world.
Pastor Ajagba disclosed that Nigeria had been selected as a hub for the initiative, with Abia State serving as the Anglophone hub for West Africa, a development expected to further strengthen the State’s profile as an emerging destination for trade, innovation and international business.
He called on entrepreneurs, manufacturers and business owners across the State and beyond to take advantage of the opportunity, stressing that AFRICANDO 2026 should not be mistaken for an ordinary trade fair but an international trade conference designed to facilitate strategic business relationships and investments.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the conference would provide Abia with an important opportunity to showcase its economic strengths, locally made products and entrepreneurial capacity before investors and business leaders from Africa and beyond.
He noted that AFRICANDO 2026 would promote trade, cultural exchange and stronger economic cooperation while deepening Abia’s relationship with the international business community and opening fresh opportunities for local businesses to access wider markets.
In her contribution, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Rev. Mrs Annie Onu, described AFRICANDO as a unique initiative designed to bring Africans together for economic development, cooperation and shared prosperity.
She explained that the conference would provide participating countries with the opportunity to better understand Abia State’s strengths and areas of comparative advantage, while enabling the State to benefit from the ideas, expertise, innovations and opportunities available across Africa and the wider international community.
“AFRICANDO is a unique investment that will unite Africans, not only Nigeria. It will encourage other African countries coming to our state to see what Abia has and what God has blessed us with, while we also learn from them,” she said.
Rev. Mrs Onu added that the event would also provide a platform to promote Abia’s rich cultural heritage and showcase the achievements recorded by the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
With the countdown now underway, AFRICANDO 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest international economic gatherings ever hosted in Abia State, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, manufacturers and development partners for three days of high-level engagement, investment discussions and business networking.
The Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Mrs. Salome Obiukwu; the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, Miss Elizabeth Chijioke; and a Board member
of the UCDA were also present at the press conference.