Lagos hosts 21st annual AVCA Conference and VC Summit to chart the future of private capital in Africa
The conference features keynote speeches by Dr Jumoke Oduwole MFR, Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria and Aliko Dangote GCON, Founder and CEO of Dangote Industries.
Returning to Nigeria after 11 years, the conference highlights the country’s position as a leading hub for investment, securing US$3bn in private capital deals from 2020-2024.
Features 130+ speakers, including world-class investors, business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.
The 21st Annual AVCA Conference and VC Summit, the world’s largest Africa-focused private capital gathering, has kicked off in Nigeria. The anticipated annual gathering takes place at the Lagos Continental Hotel from 28 April to 2 May 2025. Themed Bold Moves: Powering 10x in Africa, the conference convenes business leaders, policymakers and private capital allocators from all around the world to exchange strategies, collaborate and unlock opportunities to stimulate returns for Africa’s development.
The conference highlights private capital as a strategic enabler of innovation, economic growth and industrialisation. The convening returns to Nigeria after 11 years and demonstrates the opportunity to diversify African economies, leverage strategic sectors, and showcase the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nigeria and beyond. Nigeria ranks first in West Africa by deal volume (66%) and value (52%), securing US$3bn in reported private capital deals from 2020-2024, according to AVCA research.
The 21st Annual AVCA Conference provides a platform to forge progressive partnerships, frame action-oriented discussions, and mobilise new and deep pools of capital from development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, insurers, and other capital allocators. The conference is a key forum to focus investor activity and reinforces the role of private capital in driving sustainable growth, alongside other global development-focused proceedings, including Financing for Development in Seville, the United Nations General Assembly, and G20 in South Africa later this year.
Speakers at AVCA’s conference include Dr Jumoke Oduwole MFR, Honourable Minister, Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Nigeria; Aliko Dangote GCON, Founder and CEO of Dangote Industries; Olusola Lawson, Co-Managing Director, African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), Tope Awotona, Founder and CEO, Calendly; Benson Adenuga, Head of Office and Coverage Director, Nigeria, British International Investment (BII); Danladi Verheijen, Co-Founder/CEO, Verod Capital Management; Tope Lawani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Helios Investment Partners, among others.
The conference sessions incorporate strategies from industry experts across leading organisations, such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa50, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Norfund, Public Investment Corporation (PIC), and Rwanda Finance.
Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, CEO, AVCA, said: “This conference comes at a pivotal time for Nigeria, and it is significant that we are returning to Lagos, a vibrant commercial hub, after 11 years. Despite the macroeconomic headwinds that have rocked global financial markets, Africa has demonstrated resilience and innovation, with Nigeria in particular, leading the continent in the venture landscape. Amid shifting global dynamics, it is more important than ever that capital allocators, fund managers, policymakers, business leaders and industry stakeholders come together to explore how private capital can deliver performance and impact.”
Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Group, stated “As Nigeria works to deepen its capital markets and drive inclusive economic growth, the role of both local and international capital providers has never been more critical. This conference underscores the critical synergy between public and private markets, with capital markets serving as a vital bridge for unlocking value and providing structured exits for private capital. We commend AVCA’s convening power in fostering dialogue, strengthening market linkages, and advancing a shared vision for sustainable economic development across Nigeria.”
Background
The conference kicked off with a press briefing on 28 April 2025. Photos and Video highlights are linked here.
The 2025 conference follows the appointment of Anna Evi-Parker to AVCA’s senior leadership team as Regional Head, West Africa, following AVCA’s strategic merger with PEVCA (here)
Previous AVCA conferences have been held in cities including Johannesburg, Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Cape Town, Dakar, London, Marrakech, Nairobi, and Tunis.
The conference stimulates the evolving global dialogue on private capital mobilisation, impact investment, and development finance for Africa.
