Heads of State, government officials, captains of industry, businesspeople, decision-makers, academics, respected experts and advisors from Africa, the CARICOM region and globally are slated to meet in Abuja, Nigeria June 23-28 for the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings.
Nigeria and Afreximbank have signed the host country agreement for the one of the most anticipated gatherings on the African continent.
The event features high-level policy discussions, presentations, and side events on issues pertinent to the socio-economic development of Africa as well as business networking sessions that drive integration through trade and investments.
The 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings is expected to be the largest gathering of Global Africa in the bank’s annual meetings history, bringing together over 6,000 delegates.
Commenting on the significance of the agreement, Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy for Nigeria, emphasised Nigeria’s strong partnership with Afreximbank and its commitment to fostering trade and economic growth for Africa and beyond.
“Nigeria is honoured to host the 2025 Afreximbank Annual Meetings, which will serve as a critical platform to drive discussions on trade financing, economic growth, and investment opportunities across Africa,” Edun said.
“This event is a testament to our commitment to strengthening Africa’s financial sector and positioning Nigeria as a hub for economic transformation,” he further stated.
Professor Benedict Oramah, president and chairman of the board of directors, Afreximbank said the bank greatly appreciate the Nigeria’s acceptance to host the 2025 Afreximbank Annual Meetings.
He said the host agreement “demonstrates our united determination to accelerating Africa’s economic growth and development.
“The Government of Nigeria has been a steadfast partner and a strong backbone of the Bank. It has consistently responded positively to capital calls, injecting significant equity into the Bank even when the economic environment seemed challenging; removing regulatory hurdles that would otherwise inhibit the Bank’s business in Nigeria, and being at the forefront of rallying continental support for the Bank,” Oramah said.
This year’s meetings will be held under the theme, “Building the Future on Decades of Resilience” and Oramah said this reflects “the progress that we have made over the past three decades and the bold steps that are imperative to navigate the increasingly complex global landscape”.
He said that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) has given the continent “an unrivalled opportunity to deliver sustainable economic transformation that will propel Africa’s economic growth and raise living standards and prosperity for all Africans.
“Afreximbank Annual Meetings will provide a platform to reflect on our journey, celebrate contributions, and chart a path forward that reinforces our continent’s economic independence and global influence. We look forward to welcoming and meeting stakeholders from across Africa and other parts of the world to Abuja for this prestigious event.”
Oramah noted that Nigeria’s unwavering support to Afreximbank has been the primary driver of the Bank’s strong continental impact.
“The impact on the Nigerian economy is equally palpable. Being the largest recipient of the Bank’s trade and development finance, Nigeria has attracted cumulative disbursements of about US$52 billion in addition to being the first beneficiary of several flagship transformative projects being executed by the Bank such as the African Medical Centre of Excellence, African Quality Assurance Centre. Afreximbank African Trade Centre, among others.”
This year’s event comes against the backdrop of the highly successful 2024 AAM, held in Nassau, The Bahamas and attended by over 4,000 delegates, including heads of state, government ministers, high-level dignitaries, global experts, and world-renowned celebrities and artists.
Afreximbank was established when the shareholders held their first general meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in October 1993. Today, Nigeria is Afreximbank’s second-largest shareholder.