24th March 2026
Nigeria has officially signed the host agreement for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027), scheduled to take place in Lagos from 5 to 11 November 2027. Taking over from Algeria, which hosted the fourth edition that generated US$49.94 billion in trade and investment deals, Nigeria’s hosting underscores its central role in advancing intra-African trade and economic integration. The agreement was signed in partnership with Afreximbank, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the AfCFTA Secretariat, demonstrating broad institutional alignment to support the Fair’s objectives.
IATF2027 aims to attract over 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors, and participation from more than 100 countries, with a targeted trade and investment volume exceeding US$50 billion. The Fair will feature diverse programming, including trade exhibitions, AfCFTA-focused investment forums, diaspora engagement through Global Africa Day, B2B and B2G platforms, the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), Africa Automotive Show, youth start-up pavilions, and research and innovation hubs. These initiatives highlight the Fair’s strategic role in fostering value chains, promoting industrialisation, and encouraging inclusive participation across sectors.
Speakers at the signing ceremony emphasized the strategic and historical significance of hosting IATF in Lagos. H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the IATF2027 Advisory Council, noted that the city has historically championed Africa’s industrialisation agenda, while H.E. Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, highlighted Nigeria’s expanding contribution to continental trade flows and the Fair’s role in advancing the AfCFTA’s objectives. Afreximbank President Dr. George Elombi underscored Nigeria’s industrial capacity and entrepreneurial depth as a natural fit for hosting the event, while AU Commissioner Francisca Tatchoup Belobe stressed the importance of aligning industrial policy, mineral development, and trade facilitation to unlock Africa’s full potential.