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Academics, economists, others discuss African development at AFEA 2026 conference
Policy experts, academics, and researchers have stated that strong public policy implementation and debt management can drive good governance in Africa.
They made these remarks during the just-concluded African Finance and Economics (AFEA) 2026 conference, held in Abuja from 3 to 5 July.
Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, Evans Osabuohein, a professor of economics, said that the discussions at the event focused on public policy and debt management, which are affecting human capital development in Africa.
“It [is] about how public debt can be managed more efficiently in Africa, so that we can tap into the resources for human capital and energy efficiency in this age of innovation. We need human resources that are well-skilled, equipped, and knowledgeable to harness such potential that technology like artificial intelligence present today,” he said.
“Debt is not bad in itself; the issue is when debt is borrowed but is not used for capital investment, the servicing of debt becomes a burden. We have seen this in most African countries where some of the borrowings are not geared towards human capital development.”
Mr Osabuohein, a board member of AFEA, explained that it would be a win-win option for both governments and citizens if public debt is used judiciously, saying that the execution of projects translates into employing the populace to do the labour.
More details
The three-day international conference, hosted by Nile University Abuja’s faculty of arts and social sciences, brought together scholars, policymakers, and industry experts in the field of economics.
Themed ‘Africa’s Geoeconomic Development Agenda in a Global Realignment Era’, it sought to contribute expert input on shifting geopolitics, climate risk, and development finance across the continent, and drew attendees from Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries.
Emotimo Agama, director-general of the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC); Tope Fasua, an economic adviser to President Bola Tinubu; Tony Okpanachi, managing director of the Development Bank of Nigeria, among others, made up the line-up of dignitaries for the event.
Premium Times monitored breakout sessions at the programme, where participants presented papers on topics including debt sustainability, global financial and health governance systems, digital service delivery, mobile money, financial inclusion, and continental digital markets.
Some sessions also focused on youth, gender, demographic change, and inclusive development; as well as migration, urbanisation, and spatial inequality, with a broad focus on Africa-West relations.
The sessions featured interactive discussions for each paper presenter, including how their research work could be further enhanced.
Participants speak
Abogede Marietu, a PhD candidate of economics at Nile University, described the conference as impactful, adding that it has given her opportunities to learn from scholars in her field.
“Today is actually my first time presenting my work at an international conference, and I think that gives visibility to my work. I have also got to learn from other presenters.”
“It is my earnest desire that the government in Africa would look into the policies that myself and other presenters have come up with, so as to improve the economy, and also aid the livelihood of the citizens of the continent,” she said.
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Another paper presenter, Ropheka Bot, stated that she found the discussions in the conference “very timely and engaging as experts gathered to discuss current global issues”
Mrs Bot, a lecturer at Bingham University, Karu, said she hopes that governments in Africa would implement some of their research findings to improve development on the continent.
About AFEA
The African Finance and Economics Association (AFEA) is a professional forum for academics and practitioners (government and industry) of finance, economics, and related disciplines interested in the development of Africa.
It seeks to empower the continent through financial growth and sustainable development, with a mission to promote the exchange of information and ideas among professionals and stakeholders in the field while fostering research that advances knowledge on contemporary African development issues.
With Majune Socrates as its president, Gbadebo Odularu sits as the chairman of the board for the organisation.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has committed a $75 million finance facility to the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) to expand access to finance for Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including eligible businesses in the creative economy.
The facility was announced during CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos, reflecting the event’s focus on linking creative enterprises with finance, investment and markets, Afreximbank said in a joint statement with DBN on Wednesday.
Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, IntraAfrican Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, and Tony Okpanachi, CEO of DBN, led the ceremonial signing on behalf of their institutions.
Ms Awani said the collaboration with DBN extends beyond providing capital, noting that Afreximbank is taking an integrated approach that combines finance with capacity building, export-readiness support and access to markets.
“Our objective is to help Nigerian SMEs build productive capacity, strengthen their competitiveness and make the transition from promising local businesses to sustainable exporters,” she said.
Ms Awani said the bank will team up with participating financial institutions to strengthen their capacity to understand finance better and support SMEs throughout their growth journey.
According to her, combining finance with practical support will help businesses prepare for export markets and connect with buyers across Africa and beyond.
“For creative enterprises, that advances CANEX’s ambition to turn African talent and ideas into sustainable businesses that can compete internationally,” she said.
Mr Okpanachi said the partnership combines DBN’s wholesale lending network with Afreximbank’s trade finance expertise, capacity building and market access support, strengthening local financial institutions’ ability to serve export-oriented SMEs.
According to him, the partnership with Afreximbank shows another significant step in DBN’s commitment to expanding access to finance for Nigerian MSMEs and enabling them to build resilient, competitive and sustainable businesses.
“The $75 million facility will provide much-needed financing through our Participating Financial Institutions, while creating greater opportunities for businesses, particularly those in the creative and export-oriented sectors, to strengthen their productive capacity and access new markets,” Mr Okpanachi said.
Beyond financing, the DBN chief executive said the partnership’s capacity-building and market-access components are particularly important to stakeholders.
By strengthening financial institutions’ ability to support export-ready businesses and connecting Nigerian enterprises to wider African and international markets, the DBN CEO said the development bank is helping MSMEs advance from local businesses to competitive participants in regional and global value chains.
“This aligns strongly with DBN’s mandate to address financing constraints and support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria”, Mr Okpanachi added.
DBN will route the loan through its partner financial institutions to fund eligible small businesses.
The facility will support working capital, asset acquisition, pre-export, post-export, and supply chain activities, with businesses in fashion, film, music, design, and the wider creative industries among the intended beneficiaries.
It will also equip beneficiaries with the skills, tools, and market knowledge needed to develop their businesses, become export-ready, and access regional and international markets.
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Alongside the financing, Afreximbank and DBN will jointly develop a capacity-building programme to strengthen PFIs’ ability to support export-oriented SMEs.
Afreximbank plans to also provide access to its trade platforms, including MANSA, TRADAR, PAPSS and ATEX, and support market access through the Africa Buyer Programme, ATDC and the Intra-African Trade Fair.
Afreximbank, a Pan-African multilateral financial institution, is mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade.
Working with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the AU, the bank has set up a $10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries that participate effectively in the AfCFTA.
At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over $48.5 billion, while its shareholder funds totalled $8.4 billion.
DBN is a wholesale development finance institution established to address the major financing constraints MSMEs face in Nigeria.
DBN provides long-term financing and risk-sharing support through eligible participating financial institutions, enabling them to extend appropriate, sustainable financing to MSMEs across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
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