West Africa Industrial Summit Targets Manufacturing Upside from Rising Trade Flows
By SAMUEL MOBOLAJI
West Africa’s accelerating intra-African trade is shifting attention from raw export growth to the tougher task of building industrial capacity, as policymakers and investors prepare for the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit and Exhibition (West Africa IMT 2026) in Lagos from March 3 to 5, 2026.
The summit comes against the backdrop of improving regional trade numbers. Data from the Nigeria Customs Service show that Nigeria’s exports to African markets rose by 14 per cent to N4.82 trillion, with West Africa accounting for more than 60 per cent of the total.
The figures highlight the sub-region’s growing role as Nigeria’s largest continental trading partner and underscore the opportunity to deepen value addition within the bloc.
In Ghana, early outcomes from the government’s 24-hour economy policy are already signalling industrial momentum. Pilot industrial zones, including the Tema light-manufacturing corridor, have recorded higher output and increased night-shift employment, pointing to how policy reforms can translate into real production gains when aligned with private sector activity.
Organisers of West Africa IMT 2026 say these developments reflect both opportunity and urgency, as rising trade volumes alone are insufficient without corresponding growth in manufacturing, infrastructure and jobs. Endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and organised by dmg Nigeria events, the summit is positioned as a platform to bridge that gap by aligning policy, capital and execution.
Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, said industrialisation remains central to Nigeria’s economic strategy and the region’s long-term prosperity.
He noted that manufacturing growth is critical for job creation, skills development and sustainable wealth generation, adding that the summit aligns with Nigeria’s industrial agenda and the wider objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The three-day event is expected to attract policymakers, manufacturers, investors and infrastructure providers from across West Africa and beyond. Discussions will focus on scaling industrial capacity, improving trade facilitation, addressing infrastructure deficits and mobilising long-term financing to support value-added production across key sectors.
According to the portfolio director for Africa at dmg Events, Wemimo Oyelana, the summit is designed to move beyond policy declarations to measurable outcomes. She said the focus is on aligning government priorities with private sector capability and investment capital to deliver stronger value chains and tangible economic impact across the region.
Despite the positive trade trajectory, challenges remain significant. Infrastructure gaps, logistics inefficiencies, evolving tariff regimes and intense global competition for manufacturing investment continue to constrain industrial growth. Organisers say West Africa IMT 2026 will confront these bottlenecks through project-driven discussions and cross-border collaboration.
As AfCFTA implementation gathers pace and regional trade deepens, the summit is expected to test how effectively West Africa can convert trade gains into sustained manufacturing growth, at a time many see as pivotal for the sub-region’s economic transformation.
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