New York – – September 22, 2026 -- Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group, told more than 3,000 African and global business leaders and heads of state that Africa must stop exporting its capital to foreign banks and markets if it wants to replicate Asia's industrial rise. His remarks came at Unstoppable Africa 2026, a two-day forum in New York organized around the theme of continental industrialization and investment.
Dangote Calls for Domestic Capital Retention to Fund Industrial Projects
Dangote argued that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides the scale needed for major industrial ventures, but only if capital stays on the continent to fund them. "We must believe in our continent," he said, adding that early movers face the steepest hurdles but that momentum builds once projects begin.
Unstoppable Africa 2026 Gathers 3,000 Leaders in New York
The forum brought together business executives, investors, and heads of state to assess commercial partnership opportunities across the continent. The South African Business Initiative for Impact (SABII) presented South Africa's investment and partnership proposition, focusing on linking local opportunities to global capital pools. Zeine Zeidane, Director of the African Department at the International Monetary Fund, pointed to structural reforms, deeper domestic financial markets, and AfCFTA-driven market expansion as key levers for attracting private investment.
Flutterwave and Signverse Highlight Africa's Digital Growth Potential
Olugbenga Agboola, CEO of Flutterwave, pointed to Africa's young, increasingly connected population as a driver of digital payments and AI adoption across markets. Elly Savatia, Founder and CEO of Signverse, disclosed that the company has built the largest publicly documented dataset for an African sign language to date, backed by $2 million in Google funding, with plans to extend the framework to additional local sign languages.
Namibia's President Signs Youth Empowerment Partnership with WNBA Star's Foundation
Namibian President Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah signed a partnership agreement between the Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Foundation and the Queens of the Continent Foundation, founded by two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN host Chiney Ogwumike. The agreement targets youth development programs in Namibia, with an emphasis on girls and young women.
Afreximbank's CANEX Program Secures Over 120 Global Fashion Deals Since 2022
Khanyi Mashimbiye, Manager of Creatives at Afreximbank, detailed the CANEX program's work connecting African fashion brands with international buyers through Tranoï in Paris and Japan and Coterie in New York. The initiative has secured more than 120 offtake agreements since 2022; Zimbabwean brand Vanu Vanwerk now sells in more than 50 stores worldwide as a result.
Closing the forum, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed framed AI and technology deployment as Africa's opportunity to leapfrog previous industrialization cycles, provided the continent secures the infrastructure and investment needed to scale its talent.