The first edition of the ACFTA Fest (named after the African Continental Free Trade Area) took place from March 26 to 28 in Abuja, Nigeria. This historic three-day pan-African celebration brought together the continent's vibrant cultures , bold innovators, and sporting legends under one roof.
This platform is the continent's first truly pan-African cross-sectoral festival, blending business, innovation, culture and sport in an attempt to unify Africa.
"When you have a unified system, it means that everyone comes together to pursue a common goal, which is to develop Africa through trade, sport, culture and many innovations," according to economist Ifeoma Ezike, deputy director of the monetary policy department at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Designed to be held annually in different African countries, this forum aims to empower 1.5 million young people in the fields of entrepreneurship, arts and sport.
"We have found that there are many young people and students with brilliant innovative ideas, but there is no structural framework to make them a reality," explains Mandi Anyangwe, project manager for ACFTA Fest 2026.
The event facilitated high-level dialogue between African entrepreneurs, policymakers, and stakeholders of the African Continental Free Trade Area to discuss challenges and strategies for developing startups on the continent.
"With 54 distinct markets, [this forum] is an incredible opportunity for us to stimulate economic growth, to lift ourselves out of poverty, to commit to responsibility and success," says Mechie Nkengla, an expert in artificial intelligence and data.
For its first edition, the ACFTA Fest hoped to welcome more than 10,000 participants, both in person and remotely.
