African Leaders Meet In Lagos For Industrialisation, Trade Summit

In a move to accelerate industrialisation and strengthen regional trade, West African governments and industry leaders will convene in Lagos, Nigeria, from October 21 to 23 for the 2025 West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade (West Africa-IMT) Summit and Exhibition.

The summit, organised by dmg Nigeria Events, is expected to serve as a strategic platform for forging stronger economic cooperation across the sub-region as countries pivot from aid dependency to domestic value creation, infrastructure development, and industrial self-reliance.

According to the organisers, the West Africa-IMT Summit will connect key stakeholders—ranging from investors and manufacturers to policymakers and trade experts—in high-level sector-focused dialogues covering manufacturing incentives, energy access, logistics optimisation, and regional trade frameworks.

The timing of the summit comes amid significant policy shifts across the region. Ghana’s recent procurement directive prioritising locally manufactured goods reflects a national push towards building internal industrial capacity.

This is complemented by a projected 32% increase in cocoa production and new incentives for manufacturers and logistics operators in designated industrial parks.

Senegal is also making headway in its industrial agenda. The country has recorded a 19% year-on-year rise in industrial output, with notable expansions in textiles, food processing, and poultry production. Government-backed energy grid upgrades to industrial zones and regional trade pacts are contributing to the momentum.

These developments, organisers say, demonstrate the region’s readiness to deepen intra-African trade and drive a sustainable industrial revolution under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Country Director – Nigeria and Portfolio Director – Energy for dmg Nigeria Events,
Wemimo Oyelana, stated: “In a world moving rapidly toward locally rooted production and trade-driven partnerships, what we are seeing across West Africa is a series of concrete steps toward building the ecosystem required for industries to thrive. The region is beginning to match ambition with structure, and potential with performance.”

He emphasised that the summit is designed to not only highlight policy wins but also facilitate critical linkages between capital, capacity, and infrastructure needed for long-term industrial transformation.

Participants at the three-day event will explore how to scale up existing successes and create new industrial pathways in key sectors such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, energy, and logistics. Stakeholders are also expected to review and align policies to better position the region for global competitiveness.

As the region grapples with shifting trade dynamics and reduced foreign aid, the 2025 West Africa-IMT Summit aims to chart a new course that empowers local industries, strengthens regional collaboration, and unlocks inclusive growth across the ECOWAS bloc.