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Africa Finance Corporation Partners Lagos Fashion Week 2025 to Drive Africa’s Creative and Manufacturing Transformation

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Africa Finance Corporation

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has announced its partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2025, underscoring its commitment to empowering Africa’s youth and creative industries, as engines for inclusive economic growth.

Africa’s apparel and textile exports is projected to reach$15b by 2030. As a key partner, AFC will support Lagos Fashion Week 2025 in advancing Africa’s creative economy, one of the continent’s fastest-growing sectors, by promoting sustainable production, local manufacturing, and value addition within the fashion and textiles value chain.

By building critical infrastructure that underpins these creative value chains, AFC is ensuring that Africa’s designers and manufacturers can compete on a truly global stage

This collaboration builds on AFC’s broader mandate to drive industrialisation and job creation through strategic investments in critical infrastructure that transforms economies. Through its investee company ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), AFC is facilitating Africa’s transition from being primarily an exporter of raw materials to a producer and exporter of finished goods. The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin Republic hosts world-class textile factories where African cotton is processed into finished garments and exported to leading global retailers, including The Children’s Store in the United States. This transformational project is creating thousands of skilled jobs for local youth and stands as a model of sustainability in textiles manufacturing with the use of 100% sustainably sourced cotton running exclusively on renewable energy and recycling up to 95% of its water.

“Africa’s creative industries embody both our cultural pride and our economic promise. Through this partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2025, we are advancing AFC’s commitment to turn that promise into measurable impact—supporting the full fashion value chain to empower the youth, strengthen local manufacturing, and drive value addition on the continent,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC. “By building critical infrastructure that underpins these creative value chains, AFC is ensuring that Africa’s designers and manufacturers can compete on a truly global stage,” he added.

Now in its 15th year, Lagos Fashion Week has become a globally recognised platform showcasing African design excellence and creativity. The 2025 edition will spotlight circular fashion, responsible sourcing, and regional value chains, areas where AFC’s infrastructure investments are helping bridge Africa’s creative and industrial potential.

Omoyemi Akerele, Founder of Lagos Fashion Week, said: “We are pleased to welcome AFC as a key partner for Lagos Fashion Week 2025. Their commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure and local manufacturing aligns with our mission to strengthen the foundations of Africa’s fashion ecosystem and foster meaningful leadership in financing sustainable infrastructure and manufacturing aligns perfectly with our vision for a future where Africa’s creative industries not only inspire but also produce and export value from within the continent.”

AFC’s partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2025 follows similar collaborations across Africa’s creative landscape, including its +234Art Fair partnership with Ecobank, reflecting a continued commitment to supporting the continent’s young entrepreneurs, innovators, and artists who are redefining Africa’s global narrative. Collectively, AFC-backed projects have to date added over US$50 billion to GDP and supported the creation of 7 million jobs across 36 countries on the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

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Energy

History Will Be Signed in Abuja This Tuesday

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Nigeria Mining Week

Nigeria Mining Week set to host a landmark mining deal announcement and signing, described by organisers as the most significant since Segilola came online

ABUJA, Nigeria, October 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Nigeria’s mining sector is preparing for a defining investment moment. On Tuesday, 13 October, Nigeria Mining Week 2026 (https://NigeriaMiningWeek.com) is expected to host the announcement and signing of a major mining transaction before government leaders, mining executives, investors, financiers, chambers of mines, international institutions and technical partners.

 




  

Described by event organisers as the biggest mining deal announcement in Nigeria since Segilola came online, the moment is expected to signal a new phase in the country’s journey from mineral potential to bankable projects, operating mines, domestic processing and industrial value creation.

For years, the industry has spoken about Nigeria’s potential. On Tuesday, the conversation shifts from potential to execution.

A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR NIGERIAN MINING

Nigeria is endowed with more than 44 commercially viable minerals across over 500 locations. Yet solid minerals still represent a comparatively small share of national economic output and exports, underlining the scale of the opportunity available through exploration, project development, beneficiation, responsible mining and stronger connections to capital.

Nigeria Mining Week 2026 is designed around that conversion challenge. Under the theme ‘Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships’, the 11th edition connects policy, projects, finance, technology and markets, with investment readiness and bankable mining opportunities at the centre of the programme.

THE INDUSTRY’S MOST IMPORTANT ROOM THIS WEEK

Current event indicators point to a highly international and senior audience: 3,900 registrants, representation from 40 countries, 41% of registrants at director level or above, and 45% international exhibitor passes. These are registration and programme indicators rather than verified final attendance totals.

Across the conference, exhibition, CEO Roundtable, Critical Minerals Forum, Deal Room, Gold Forum, Steel Forum and Women in Extractive Industries Forum, participants will engage on geological data, project finance, licensing confidence, governance, ESG, power, logistics, beneficiation, local value addition and the infrastructure required to move projects into production.

WHO WILL BE IN THE ROOM?

The audience brings together institutions and companies spanning the full mining value chain. Confirmed programme, sponsor, exhibitor and registration records referenced by the organisers include:

Investors, financiers and development institutions

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC); Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM); Development Bank of Namibia; Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC); Mercuria Energy Trading NG; Critical Minerals Financing Corporation; Zigma Ltd.

Mining operators, developers and mineral-sector companies

Segilola Resources Operating Limited; DFR Gold; Promethean Resources; RapidLink Resources Ltd.; Titan Minerals; National Iron Ore Mining Company; Syils Group Nigeria Limited; Africa Gold Council; Jemaa Resource Project; mining and exploration businesses active across gold, lithium, iron ore, gemstones and industrial minerals.

Global industrial, equipment and technology companies

Mitsubishi Corporation; Marubeni; Sojitz; African Industries Group; LiuGong; XCMG; Sany; Sinotruk; SAIC Hongyan; Lonking; Shandong Xinhai; Mikano Motors; Solar Nigachem; Bristol Scientific; Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

Chambers of mines, associations and international bodies

Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN); Mining Industry Association of Southern Africa (MIASA); Ghana Chamber of Mines; Botswana Chamber of Mines; Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers; Gemstones Miners and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMMAN); Women in Mining Nigeria; International Lithium Association (ILiA); African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC); United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); Zambia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ZEITI); Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE); Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce; China Mining Association of Nigeria (CMAN); ECOWAS-linked institutions and regional mining stakeholders.

VOICES SHAPING THE CONVERSATION

The programme features senior policymakers, operators, investors and technical experts, including Amb. Anna Westerholm of the Embassy of Sweden; Astrid Karamira of the International Lithium Association; Austin Menegbo of Segilola Resources; Dr Cameron Perks of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence; Dr Israel Ovirih of Critical Minerals Financing Corporation; Engr. Abdullahi Also of African Industries Group; Engr. Janet Adeyemi of Women in Mining Nigeria; Geert Klok of MIASA; Harikrishnan Tulsidas of UNECE; Jude Uzonwanne of the Africa Gold Council; and representatives of NEXIM, PwC Nigeria and Nigeria’s mining institutions.

WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS

Tuesday’s expected announcement is intended to reinforce confidence that the next generation of Nigerian mining projects can attract serious capital, credible operating partners and long-term market interest.

A major transaction does more than fund one project. It can strengthen investor confidence, accelerate exploration, open supply chains, create demand for services and equipment, support jobs and show international capital that Nigeria’s mining opportunities are moving towards execution.

For investors, operators and suppliers, the commercial advantage is access: access to the principals behind the deal, to project owners seeking capital, to financiers and off-takers, to government decision-makers, and to the regional mining networks represented by MIASA and leading chambers of mines.

DON’T HEAR ABOUT IT ON WEDNESDAY

The handshake happens on Tuesday. The market hears about it afterwards.

Those inside Nigeria Mining Week will witness the moment, hear directly from the people shaping the transaction and take part in the conversations that follow. Those outside the room will be reading the headlines after the opportunity has already moved.

WILL YOU BE IN THE ROOM WHEN NIGERIA’S NEXT MINING MILESTONE IS SIGNED?

Secure your delegate pass today at https://NigeriaMiningWeek.com

EVENT DETAILS

  • Pre-conference: 12 October 2026
  • Main conference and exhibition: 13-14 October 2026
  • Venue: Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja
  • Theme: Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Mining Week.

 

 




 

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Energy

Africa’s Dealmakers Convene as 10,000 Attendees Kick Off African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town

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African Energy Chamber

AEW 2026 is officially underway, bringing 10,000 registered delegates together for a week of investment, dealmaking and strategic dialogue across Africa’s energy sector

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 11, 2026/APO Group/ –African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 has officially kicked off with over 10,000 attendees convening in Cape Town for Africa’s biggest energy gathering of the year. Dubbed Africa’s premier dealmaking platform, the event has transitioned from a conference into a movement capable of reshaping the continent’s energy future. From government leaders and global energy majors to investors, financiers, national oil companies and technology providers, the industry has arrived in Cape Town to chart a new course for Africa’s energy development.

 




  

Technical Workshops Kick Off AEW Discussions

The AEW program has officially begun with the start of this year’s technical workshops. The 8th Meeting of the APPO NOCs CEOs’ Forum will bring African national oil companies together, while the Deal Room will give project sponsors and developers an opportunity to present active oil, gas, energy and infrastructure opportunities directly to investors and lenders.

The African Farmout Forum will showcase available acreage and farmout opportunities, while dedicated workshops and masterclasses will provide targeted engagement on markets, project finance and industry capacity. The Global Energy Leaders Forum will also put energy security, geopolitical realignment and investment at the center of discussions, examining how Africa can convert changing global energy flows into long-term contracts, final investment decisions and greater energy security.

Looking Ahead at AEW 2026

Over the coming days, AEW 2026 will explore opportunities emerging across the entire energy value chain in Africa. The AEW Townhall will bring governments and industry together around the strategic issues defining the continent’s energy future, while the Upstream E&P Forum will tackle licensing, exploration, drilling, M&A and production growth. The Energy Finance Forum, meanwhile, will put capital at the center of the conversation. The Energy Additions Forum will examine the infrastructure and resources required to expand reliable energy supply and support industrialization, while the Downstream & Petchem Forum will explore refining, fuels, petrochemicals and opportunities to capture more value from African resources.

Ten thousand delegates have come to Cape Town because Africa is ready to move projects forward

A Global Conversation in Cape Town

Alongside its commercial program, AEW 2026 will convene some of the most consequential global energy discussions taking place this year. Targeted sessions include the OPEC-Africa Roundtable; the Russia-Africa Energy Investment Forum; and the Global Energy Leaders Forum. A series of roundtables will drill further into issues affecting project development. These include the Local Content Roundtable as well as ministerial and country-focused discussions that bring governments directly into conversations with investors and operators.

AEW will also expand beyond traditional energy discussions through two dedicated conferences. Renegade Intel will explore the convergence of energy, artificial intelligence, data centers and digital infrastructure, while Power Africa Today will tackle power-sector investment, transmission, storage, grid modernization and the reliable electricity supply required to support African industrialization.

Celebrating Music and Energy Progress

AEW 2026 goes beyond conference dialogue. The first day of the event will close with the Just Energy Transition Concert, the event’s official pre-conference networking icebreaker and cultural showcase. The African Energy Awards & Gala Dinner returns on Tuesday to celebrate the companies, projects and individuals helping drive the continent’s energy industry forward.

Technology and Innovation Take the Exhibition Floor

Running alongside the main conference, dedicated technical stages – The Drill Room and The Innovation Hub – will host specialized presentations on exploration, subsurface technologies, LNG, infrastructure, asset integrity and other operational challenges. The exhibition will serve as another commercial hub throughout the week, connecting operators, service companies, technology providers, governments and prospective partners.

“Ten thousand delegates have come to Cape Town because Africa is ready to move projects forward. AEW is Africa’s energy movement – where governments, investors and industry come together to turn resources into projects, projects into deals and deals into development. This week is about action, investment and building Africa’s energy future on African soil,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

 




 

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Energy

Venezuela Takes Its Africa Energy Partnership to Cape Town for African Energy Week (AEW) 2026

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African Energy Chamber

Hydrocarbons officials and university leadership head to Cape Town to deepen trade and training ties

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 10, 2026/APO Group/ –Venezuela will send an official government delegation to African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town, bringing senior figures from its Ministry of People’s Power for Hydrocarbons and its national university for oil and gas education to the continent’s premier energy event. The delegation includes Ricardo Gómez, Vice Minister of Commercial Policy; Celia Bejarano, Rector of the Universidad Venezolana de los Hidrocarburos (UVH); and Carlos Espinoza, a professional advisor in the Ministry’s petroleum division. The delegation’s participation marks the latest step in an Africa-Venezuela energy partnership that has gathered momentum throughout 2026.
 




 

In February, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) took a group of African energy leaders to Caracas. While there, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry and state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA). The agreement commits both sides to work together on upstream development and modernizing refineries. It also opens the door to shipping liquefied petroleum gas and bitumen to Africa and broadening technical training. Venezuela is an honorary member of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO). It later sent Vice Minister Arturo Gil to Cape Town to build on the agreement.

AEW 2026 is built around dealmaking, with sessions spanning the full energy value chain and a clear focus on moving capital into projects. Senior Venezuelan representation in Cape Town gives African national oil companies and investors direct access to the officials driving Venezuela’s hydrocarbons revival and fosters workforce cooperation with the continent.

When we went to Caracas in February, we said the relationship had to go both ways

Ricardo Gómez heads the Vice Ministry of Commercial Policy, the office within the Ministry responsible for coordinating and advancing the sale of Venezuela’s hydrocarbons. His portfolio aligns closely with the MoU’s trade provisions, which identified liquefied petroleum gas and bitumen as potential exports to Africa. Venezuela’s resource base gives the trade relationship considerable depth, with the country holding some 300 billion barrels of oil reserves and large volumes of natural gas.

Celia Bejarano leads UVH, Venezuela’s public university for hydrocarbons education, headquartered in Los Teques. The university has become a cornerstone of the Africa-Venezuela partnership. During an AEC working visit to Caracas, the Chamber and UVH worked through how African engineers could train at the university. The AEC has since committed to sending 10 to 15 participants from across Africa through dedicated technical programs at UVH, drawing on Venezuela’s decades of producing heavy crude onshore and developing offshore fields.

“When we went to Caracas in February, we said the relationship had to go both ways. Now Venezuela is coming to Cape Town, and I want our companies to make the most of it, whether that means trade in gas and bitumen or getting more of our young engineers trained at the university,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

The Caracas MoU also set up a joint working group tasked with pinpointing investment prospects and lining up projects for African and Venezuelan companies. AEW 2026 gives the partnership’s African counterparts a platform to engage the delegation in person as the work moves forward.

African Energy Week 2026 takes place October 12-16 at the Cape Town International Convention Center. To register as a delegate, visit  https://apo-opa.co/4zr7ekJ.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

 




 

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