LONDON, United Kingdom, May 18, 2026/APO Group/ –Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com) is pleased to announce Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) as Headline Partner for the 12th edition of The Africa Debate, taking place on Wednesday, 3 June 2026 at the Guildhall, London.

 

This year’s extraordinary speaker line-up includes H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, and AFC’s President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, alongside global business leaders and investors shaping Africa’s next chapter.

As the UK’s leading forum for high-level dialogue on Africa’s economic future, The Africa Debate 2026 will convene over 800 senior leaders from government, finance and industry under the theme: ‘Redefining Partnership: Navigating a World in Transition’.

As the global order evolves and new economic and geopolitical realities emerge, discussions will focus on how to accelerate investment, unlock growth and strengthen development outcomes through a new era of collaboration.

This year’s speaker line-up reflects the breadth of voices shaping Africa’s next chapter, from heads of state to the stewards of global capital.

Highlights include:

H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana
The Rt. Hon. Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister for International Development and Africa

Key ministers include:

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ghana
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, Republic of Ghana

Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance, Republic of Ghana

Hon. Judith Salvio Kapinga, Minister for Industry and Trade, United Republic of Tanzania

H.E. Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria

 

Dalu Ajene, CEO & Head of Coverage, Africa, Standard Chartered

Runa Alam, Co-Founder & CEO, Development Partners International
Haythem El Maayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank

Dr. Awele V. Elumelu, Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation
Claver Gatete, Under Secretary General & Executive Secretary, UNECA
Amadou Hott, Chair, Africa Advisory Board, Vision Invest

Kola Karim, Group Managing Director & CEO, Shoreline Energy International
Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive Officer, British International Investment
Zemedeneh Negatu, Chief Executive Officer, CBE Capital Investment Bank and Chairman, Fairfax Africa Fund

Hardy Pemhiwa, President & CEO, Cassava Technologies

 

Commenting on AFC’s partnership with Invest Africa, Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, said: “We are entering a decisive period for Africa and the global economy. As trade routes, supply chains, and industrial capacity are being reshaped, Africa has a historic opportunity to move from the margins of the global economy to a more central role in powering future growth, resilience, and industrial competitiveness.

Realising that opportunity will require mobilising capital at scale toward the infrastructure, energy systems, logistics networks, and industrial ecosystems that enable productive economies to grow and create jobs.

The Africa Debate comes at an important moment to deepen partnerships, align long-term capital with long-term opportunity, and accelerate the practical solutions required to help build the Africa our children will inherit.”

Chantelé Carrington, CEO of Invest Africa, added: “The world is in transition, and Africa is no longer waiting to be invited to shape it. From the race to secure critical minerals and redefine development finance, to the urgent need to unlock energy access and accelerate digital transformation, this year’s Africa Debate puts Africa’s priorities first.

With AFC as our Headline Partner, we have a bold, visionary institution that understands what long-term, bankable investment in Africa truly looks like. Together, we are convening a conversation that goes beyond rhetoric, focused on the partnerships, the financing models, and the structural shifts that will define Africa’s next decade.”

Confirmed Partners of The Africa Debate Include: Africa Finance Corporation (Headline Partner), Absa Group, Afreximbank, Africa GreenCo, Brand South Africa, FirstBank UK Limited, Invest Durban, London Stock Exchange Group, Manufacturing Africa, Premier Invest, Rawbank, S-RM, Société Nationale d’Électricité (SNEL), Standard Bank Group and Standard Chartered.

To register as a delegate for The Africa Debate, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/4dqVaqk.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 18, 2026/APO Group/ –Multinational commodities company Trafigura signed an offtake agreement in April 2026 with Ghana’s Heath Goldfields for the Bogoso-Prestea Gold Mine, committing to purchase around 700,000 ounces of gold. The deal provides immediate commercial certainty for the project while improving its financing profile by guaranteeing a long-term buyer, addressing one of the sector’s most persistent constraints: access to capital.

The move reflects a broader trend across Africa’s mineral sector whereby projects are turning to offtake agreements to secure capital and advance production. As Africa accelerates the development of its estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, offtake agreements are emerging as an effective tool to unlock financing and de-risk projects.

This dual function – market assurance and capital enablement – is increasingly central to Africa’s mining financing landscape. By reducing demand risk, offtake agreements help unlock debt and equity financing that would otherwise be difficult to secure in early-stage or restart projects.

Similar structures are being replicated across the continent. In Sierra Leone, an offtake-backed arrangement involving Trafigura and FG Gold Limited helped unlock financing for the Baomahun Gold Project, marking a critical step in de-risking one of the country’s flagship mining developments and enabling financial close for large-scale gold production.

In the battery minerals space, NextSource Materials extended its offtake agreement in March 2026 with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation to supply graphite from the Molo project in Madagascar. The arrangement provides predictable long-term demand for 9,000 tons per annum of graphite, while simultaneously supporting project financing and expansion plans tied to global battery supply chains.

Similarly, Bannerman Energy has secured offtake agreements with North American utilities for uranium from its Etango project, providing multi-year revenue visibility from 2029 to 2033 and strengthening the project’s long-term investment case.

These transactions reflect a broader structural shift in African mining finance: offtake agreements are no longer just sales contracts, but core instruments of project development, risk allocation and capital mobilization. For other markets seeking finance and long-term buyers, these examples demonstrate the viability of offtake contracts – not only for project commissioning phases but as tools for early-stage development.

Notably, in South Africa, where the government is targeting R2 trillion in investment to unlock its critical minerals potential, offtake structures could play a central role in de-risking projects. Similarly, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds an estimated $24 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, offtake agreements could accelerate the monetization of its vast copper, cobalt and strategic mineral reserves.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) Conference and Exhibition – taking place from October 14–16 in Cape Town – will showcase how offtake-driven financing models can be scaled to accelerate project delivery and strengthen Africa’s position in global minerals supply chain. Uniting stakeholders from across the entire African mineral value chain, the event offers a platform to examine strategic financing, mechanisms to accelerate production and positioning the continent at the forefront of global mining investment.

TORONTO, Canada, May 18, 2026/APO Group/ –The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business (https://CanadaAfrica.ca/) is pleased to announce the 6th Canada–Africa Business Conference, taking place June 24–25 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, with Zenith Bank Plc confirmed as Headline Sponsor, alongside the support of Canadian private sector companies, such as GardaWorld Security, that are expanding across African markets.

 

This flagship conference will convene senior decision-makers from across Canada and Nigeria to unlock new opportunities in trade, investment, and large-scale project delivery across the continent.

The 6th edition in Lagos comes at a pivotal moment for Canada–Africa relations, as both regions deepen economic cooperation.

With Nigeria representing one of Africa’s largest and most dynamic economies, Lagos provides a strategic gateway for Canadian firms seeking market entry and expansion, and for African partners seeking capital, shared expertise and global market access.

Read More and Request to Attend the 6^th Canada-Africa Business Conference (https://apo-opa.co/4dh8ZZI)

“Building on over three decades of convening excellence, the Chamber continues to serve as a privately funded, business-to-business platform advancing commercial partnerships aligned with Canada’s trade diversification strategy and Africa’s economic growth trajectory,” – Garreth Bloor, President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

“As a leading financial institution in Africa, Zenith Bank is proud to serve as Headline Sponsor of the 6th Canada–Africa Business Conference in Lagos. The Conference reflects the growing importance of financial linkages between Africa and Canada, including the vital role of the Nigerian diaspora in driving trade and investment. Nigeria is a gateway for capital deployment across the continent, and we look forward to working with partners to accelerate trade and investment.” –  Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON – Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc

“Canada brings a unique combination of capital, credibility, and world-class expertise in sectors that matter most to Africa’s growth—from mining and infrastructure to financial services and clean technologies. For Nigeria, this Conference is about unlocking that partnership in a practical way.” – High Commission of Canada in Nigeria.

A Proven Model for Impact

The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business has delivered high-level conferences across the continent, bringing together hundreds of delegates and facilitating meaningful commercial outcomes.

As per the official program page, the upcoming program in Lagos will follow the Chamber’s established format:

• Day 1: Full-day conference program
• Day 2: Executive-level engagements with members and sponsors

Registration & Participation

Organizations interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to engage early due to strong demand and limited capacity. Visit our official conference page for more (https://apo-opa.co/4dh8ZZI).