NAIROBI, Kenya, March 31, 2026/APO Group/ –Afrobarometer (www.Afrobarometer.org) is urging private-sector leaders and investors across Africa to integrate public attitude data into their decision making, as citizen perspectives are essential to building resilient, competitive, and future-ready enterprises.

This call came through strongly as Afrobarometer engaged business leaders, investors, policy makers, regulators, and innovators at the CEO Conclave and Investors Forum 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum, convened by the Africa Asia Middle East Chamber of Commerce (AAMECC), brought together about 100 leaders from across the business ecosystem to explore opportunities for investment, innovation, and cross-border partnerships.

At the event, Afrobarometer presented data on economic and social conditions tailored for private-sector stakeholders and highlighted the role of citizens’ lived experiences and perceptions in shaping consumer behaviour, investment climates, and business performance.

“The environments in which you operate are shaped by the expectations, frustrations, resilience, and aspirations of people,” said Felix Biga, chief operations officer for Afrobarometer. “Citizen experiences and perceptions of economic conditions, trust in institutions, access to services, and lived realities all influence market behaviour, investment climates, and ultimately business success.”

Participants echoed the value of integrating citizen-centred data into business planning.

“As Africa emerges as a significant frontier for economic growth, those who lead will be organisations prioritising insights derived from robust data, particularly citizen-centred data,” said Peter Mutinda, president of AAMECC.

“What is most important to me in business, especially when working with African partners, is starting with data, then building connections and cooperation, and only then moving into the details and country-specific specialisations,” said Pawel Zarzecki, an export manager at Bart, a health-focused manufacturer.

Eve Mischeki from the Women in Business network also underscored the relevance of the findings presented by Afrobarometer.

“As a woman in business, I see strong synergy with Afrobarometer’s data, particularly in the key priorities it highlights, which closely reflect the realities we navigate,” she said.

This engagement forms part of Afrobarometer’s broader effort to deepen collaboration with business leaders through a series of targeted dialogues aimed at increasing awareness of its data and co-creating solutions that respond to both business and societal priorities.

CAIRO, Egypt, March 27, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (http://www.Afreximbank.com) has announced that it will hold its 33rd Annual Meetings (AAM2026) at El Alamein in Egypt, from 21 to 24 June 2026.

Against the backdrop of deepening geopolitical re-alignment and conflicts, Afreximbank will hold its 33^rd Annual Meetings under the theme “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty”, underscoring the growing imperative for African countries to harness internal capacities, strengthen regional value chains, and accelerate industrial transformation as a foundation for sustainable and resilient growth.

The meetings will bring together Heads of State, government officials, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, academia and international partners from across Africa and beyond.

Through a series of strategic dialogues and engagements, Afreximbank aims to identify priority projects and actionable programmes that will advance the transformation of Africa’s trade structure, particularly in an era shaped by protectionism, shifting alliances, and economic self-interest.

Commenting on the AAM2026, Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Egypt for hosting the 2026 Annual Meetings. He said, “For the past decade, Afreximbank has laid a solid foundation for intra-African trade to take off. As we enter this new phase, we must prioritise the processing of goods to be traded under the Free Trade Agreement.”

“With the current global turmoil, marked by policy uncertainty and intensifying geopolitical tensions, Africans must look inwards for solutions relevant to their challenges. We must wean ourselves off trade in commodities, expand investment in processing, build regional value chains, and consume our products to realise the growth and shared prosperity we want.

H.E. Mr. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), affirmed: “As the host country of Afreximbank, Egypt is honoured to welcome distinguished delegates to attend the Bank’s 33^rd Annual Meetings. At a time of increasing global uncertainty and shifting economic dynamics, Egypt’s strategic location and economic scale position it as a key driver of regional integration and advancing continental priorities. Hosting the AAM2026 in El Alamein, reflects Egypt’s continued commitment to supporting African institutions strengthening intra-African trade and advancing the continent’s industrialization and long-term economic transformation.”

The AAM2026 will provide a unique platform for delegates to engage with high-level decision-makers, connect with partners across the value chain, gain insights into trade finance and logistics, and access capital and close investment deals. The meetings will also serve as a platform to structure partnerships and advance bankable projects across the continent.

By convening a diverse range of stakeholders, AAM2026 will contribute to advancing a shared vision of an integrated, industrialised, and economically sovereign continent.

Further information about the AAM2026 can be found https://apo-opa.co/4dxAQFB

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Parastatal regulatory agency the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will participate at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as an official Local Content Partner, reinforcing its leadership in advancing indigenous capacity across Africa’s energy sector. Taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town, the event will provide a strategic platform for the NCDMB to showcase Nigeria’s evolving local content framework and investment opportunities.

 

In parallel, the NCDMB continues to strengthen its domestic capabilities, most recently launching a 12-month pipeline engineering training program in March 2026 for 33 young engineers in Port Harcourt. Delivered in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy and MJD Oilfield Services, the initiative focuses on pipeline pigging, corrosion control and integrity management, aligning workforce development with major infrastructure projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline.

 

On the infrastructure front, the board is advancing construction of a 204-room Radisson-managed hotel and conference center in Yenagoa, scheduled for commissioning this December. Positioned adjacent to the Nigerian Content Tower, the facility is designed to support industry collaboration. Complementing this, the NCDMB has commissioned a Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory at Bayelsa Medical University, enhancing healthcare capacity in host communities through cutting-edge training technologies.

 

Industrial expansion remains a core pillar of the board’s strategy. Under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme, pilot parks in Odukpani and Emeyal-1 are nearing completion and are expected to generate around 2,000 jobs each. These shared-services industrial hubs are designed to localize manufacturing, reduce costs and enable indigenous firms to scale production across upstream and midstream value chains.

 

From a financial and policy standpoint, the NCDMB is deploying multiple funding mechanisms, including a $100 million equity investment scheme, a $500 million intervention fund and a $20 million women-focused initiative. Recent enforcement measures – such as stricter expatriate quota controls and mandatory compliance certification – further signal a shift toward deeper localization, transparency and long-term investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

 

“The participation of the NCDMB at AEW 2026 is a strong signal that Africa is serious about building its own capacity and retaining value within the continent,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Local content is not just policy – it is the foundation for sustainable growth, job creation and energy security across African markets.”

 

As AEW 2026 convenes global investors, policymakers and operators, the inclusion of the NCDMB as a Local Content Partner underscores the growing importance of in-country value creation. With dedicated forums on skills development, technology transfer and industrialization, the event is set to drive actionable dialogue on how local content can unlock resilient, competitive and investment-ready energy ecosystems across Africa.