Africa’s business leaders and investors unite to advance trade and industrial growth

The Sun

Over 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, corporate executives, and African entrepreneurs gathered in Lagos for the 7th edition of the Mentor Matchup Challenge (MMC 7.0), a two-day Pan-African summit focused on building bridges for equitable trade across Africa. The event featured more than 50 speakers and was supported by a strong coalition of development banks, diplomats, energy companies, and other key stakeholders across multiple sponsorship tiers.

MMC 7.0 was supported by a broad coalition of financial institutions, energy companies, and industry stakeholders, led by Nepal Energies and Zenith Bank. Organisations including Providus Bank, VFD Group, BlackCheetah, African Energy Chamber, Rainoil, Fidelity Bank, Waltersmith, Gloch Stylistic Limited, Access Bank, and Sevenup Bottling Company played a pivotal role in the event’s success, driving discussions and partnerships that advanced Africa’s trade and industrial growth.

Held in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat as the Official Event Partner, MMC 7.0 brought together private sector leaders, chambers of commerce, the African Energy Commission of the African Union, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), amongst others. These stakeholders collaborated to shape Africa’s trade and industrial agenda, forging meaningful connections and partnerships across the continent.

Participants explored actionable strategies for exploring new trade corridors, strengthening value chains, and mobilising capital to support sustainable business growth and development. Panel discussions spanned topics such as practical pathways for unlocking cross-border trade, responsible energy transition, scaling local manufacturing, and unlocking sustainable capital for SMEs and industrial projects. Sessions also highlighted Africa’s soft power and creative economy, demonstrating how intellectual property, fashion, and culture can expand the continent’s global trade footprint.

Speakers included prominent figures such as Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria; Austin Avuru, Chairman of AA Holdings; Dr Gabriel Ogbechie OON, Group MD of Rainoil; Ambassador Aminou Akadiri, Executive Director, Africa Union Business Council/Executive Director, Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI); Nonso Okpala, GMD of VFD Group; Dr Owen Omogiafo OON, President of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp); Ejike Egbuagu, Group CEO Moneda Invest Africa; Alexandra Gazendam-Schulze, Energy Strategist at the African Energy Commission (AFREC) of the African Union; and other business leaders from the public and private sectors. Each speaker provided insights connecting policy, capital, and entrepreneurship.

The event also celebrated entrepreneurship and innovation through its Pitch2Scale competition, where MashBabyFood emerged as the winner of $10,000, illustrating MMC’s role in connecting startups to mentorship, capital, and market opportunities. Attendees engaged in immersive experiences, from fashion showcases to professional networking initiatives, reinforcing the conference’s commitment to fostering inclusive, Pan-African growth.

MMC 7.0 demonstrated the power of collaboration in driving Africa’s trade and industrial growth, establishing the platform as a space where founders, investors, and policymakers can turn conversations into action. The endorsement of the AfCFTA Secretariat by HE Wamkele Mene and support from leaders across industries underscored the event’s position as a pivotal platform for mentorship, investment, and trade facilitation in Africa, setting the stage for continued impact in the years ahead.

Ezinne Nwazulu, convener of MMC 7.0, emphasised that the event was designed to connect Africa’s talent, capital, and markets, stating, “MMC is not just a conference; it is a platform for building bridges that enable real economic outcomes across the continent.”

With a growing ecosystem of partners, sponsors, and participants, MMC 7.0 highlighted how strategic collaboration, actionable insights, and inclusive engagement can translate into measurable outcomes, reinforcing Africa’s capacity to expand intra-Africa trade by 15%, strengthen industries, and accelerate the continent’s economic growth trajectory.