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A sharp rise in intra-African trade is beginning to redraw West Africa’s industrial map, putting fresh urgency behind efforts to translate policy alignment into real manufacturing capacity, logistics efficiency and coordinated investment.
Recent data from the Nigeria Customs Service shows Nigeria’s exports to African markets climbed 14 percent to N4.82 trillion, with more than 60 percent destined for West Africa. In Ghana, the government’s 24-hour economy policy is already delivering early dividends, as pilot zones such as the Tema light-manufacturing belt report stronger industrial output and rising night-shift employment, particularly in manufacturing. Together, these trends point to growing regional demand, tighter market linkages and the early effects of continental trade integration. The challenge, analysts say, is sustaining momentum by matching trade growth with industrial depth.
It is against this backdrop that the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition (West Africa IMT 2026) will hold from March 3 to 5, 2026, in Lagos.
Endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and organised by dmg Nigeria events, the summit is positioned as a strategic forum to examine how West Africa can convert trade opportunities into durable industrial growth and long-term investment outcomes.
The programme brings together a cross-section of policymakers, manufacturers, financiers and infrastructure leaders from across the region. Confirmed speakers include Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh; Benin Republic’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman; Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun (Shegun) among others.
Adjadi Bakari; Senegal’s Vice Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, Cheikh Niane; as well as senior private-sector leaders such as Adebisi Adebutu, Group President of R28 Holdings; Dr. Timi Austen-Peters, Chairman of Dorman Long Engineering; Mudiaga Mowoe, CEO of Matta; George Onafowokan, Managing Director and CEO of Coleman Wires and Cables; Naana Winful Fynn, West Africa Regional Director at Norfund; and Ufuoma Adasen, Vice President, Heavy Industries, Telecoms and Technology at Africa Finance Corporation.
Their focus will be on bridging the persistent gap between policy ambition and execution, particularly around industrial capacity development, trade facilitation, infrastructure delivery and financing frameworks capable of supporting large-scale manufacturing.
The urgency of this agenda has been underscored at the highest levels of government. Senator Enoh described industrialisation as central to both national and regional prosperity. “Industrial growth is not just an economic imperative. It is the foundation for job creation, skills development, and sustainable prosperity. The future of our nation and the region depends on how boldly we embrace industrialisation today,” he said.
He added that the ministry’s endorsement of West Africa IMT 2026 reflects its alignment with Nigeria’s broader industrial agenda. “This initiative supports Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda and strengthens regional trade, with strong potential to drive economic growth across West Africa. We commend dmg Nigeria Events for its continued contribution to industrial and trade development in the region,” Enoh said, noting that the summit is expected to generate “insightful discussions that will unlock the transformation we seek across the region.”
Organisers insist the event is designed to prioritise outcomes over rhetoric.
Wemimo Oyelana, Portfolio Director, Africa and Country Director at dmg Events, said the summit was deliberately structured to drive action. “West Africa IMT is not designed to be a forum for conversations without consequence. It is a platform deliberately bringing together policymakers, manufacturers, investors and technologists who have the mandate and capacity to move industrialisation forward across the region,” she said.
According to Oyelana, recent engagements with government have reinforced the need for tangible results. “The responsibility is to align understanding, commit to action, and ensure that the outcomes of these conversations translate into real industrial capacity, stronger value chains, and measurable economic impact for West Africa” she added.
