Afretrade Entrepreneur’s Festival 2026 Set to Convene in Lagos
The Afretrade Entrepreneur’s Festival (TAEF) 2026 will open on June 17 and run through June 19 at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos. Organized by the California‑based pan‑African trade platform Afretrade Inc., the inaugural edition brings together entrepreneurs, diaspora investors, policymakers and industry leaders from Africa, North America and Europe for three days of structured deal‑making, investment brokerage and business development.
High‑Profile Participants
The festival’s speaker list reflects a blend of political stature, cultural influence and business expertise:
- Olusegun Obasanjo – Former President of Nigeria and a globally recognised statesman.
- Abike Dabiri‑Erewa – Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), whose work centres on linking diaspora capital with African enterprises.
- Jermaine Sanwo‑Olu – Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs.
- Richard Mofe‑Damijo (RMD) – Veteran Nollywood actor, cultural icon and brand ambassador for Afretrade.
- Lekan Salaam – Founder and CEO of Afretrade Inc., who articulated the festival’s purpose: “Africa doesn’t need help. Africa needs entrepreneurs, systems and access. TAEF is the place where we build all three.”
- Toks Omishakin – California’s Transportation Secretary and one of the highest‑ranking Nigerian‑American officials in the U.S. government, underscoring the growing institutional ties between California and Nigeria.
Program Overview
TAEF 2026’s three‑day agenda is designed to move conversation toward concrete transactions. Highlights include:
- Keynote addresses from the dignitaries listed above.
- High‑profile investment panels featuring venture capitalists, development finance institutions and corporate leaders.
- A startup pitch stage where early‑stage African ventures can showcase scalable solutions.
- A pan‑African talent show celebrating creative industries.
- A structured job fair connecting skilled professionals with employers across the continent.
- A business matchmaking forum that facilitates one‑on‑one meetings between African enterprises and diaspora investors.
Economic Context and Opportunity
According to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, intra‑African trade accounted for just 14.4 % of the continent’s total trade in recent years, even though the agreement pushed intra‑African trade to an estimated $220 billion in 2024 with a projected rise to $230 billion (AfCFTA Secretariat, 2024). Lagos, with a purchasing‑power‑parity GDP of approximately $259 billion, ranks as Africa’s second‑largest economic city after Cairo (World Bank, 2023). These figures illustrate both the gap and the potential that TAEF aims to bridge.
Vision and Expected Impact
Dr. McCarthy Charly Lemassi, COO and Festival Director of TAEF 2026, described the event as “the infrastructure that Africa’s entrepreneurs have been missing – a space where trust is built, deals are structured and growth at scale is possible.” Afretrade Inc.’s model centres on a verified, execution‑focused ecosystem that connects African businesses to global markets through trade facilitation, entrepreneurship development and institutional investment. By bringing capital, expertise and policy dialogue together under one roof, the festival seeks to generate measurable outcomes such as signed investment memoranda, partnership agreements and job placements.
How to Participate
Registration for attendees, sponsors and exhibitors remains open. Detailed program information, speaker bios and sponsorship packages can be accessed at the official festival website: www.taefestival.com. Press inquiries should be directed to press@afretrade.com or contact@taefestival.com.
About Afretrade Inc.
Afretrade Inc. is a pan‑African trading and investment platform incorporated in California. The company connects African and diaspora businesses to international markets by providing trade facilitation services, entrepreneurship development programmes and access to institutional investment networks. Its Lagos office is located on the 19th floor of Western House, 8/10 Broad Street, Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
