EnterpriseNGR has officially assumed the chairmanship of the African Roundtable of Financial Centres (ARFC) a Chapter of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), marking a pivotal milestone in Africa’s journey towards deeper financial integration and global visibility.
At the inaugural African Roundtable session under the leadership of Obi Ibekwe, CEO of EnterpriseNGR, the chairmanship theme “Connecting African Financial Centres for Global Competitiveness” was unveiled. Under her leadership, EnterpriseNGR will guide the Roundtable’s strategic agenda over the next year. Key priorities include strengthening intra-African collaboration, amplifying Africa’s voice on the global financial stage, and advancing policy advocacy for economic transformation.
“As we take on this new leadership role, we are energized by the opportunity to unify African financial centres around a shared vision,” said Obi Ibekwe, Chair of the African Roundtable of Financial Centres. “Our focus will be on actionable collaboration—building capacity, shaping policy, and attracting investment to Africa through initiatives that connect our centres and elevate our global competitiveness.”
The meeting set forth several ambitious next steps, including:
- Launching the Africa Financial Centres Knowledge Exchange Series to promote regional integration and peer learning
- Co-hosting joint investment promotion events
- Strengthening cross-border cooperation through shared infrastructure, social media support, and performance metrics
- Engaging key regional bodies, such as the African Union, to align advocacy efforts on economic development
- Expanding membership and clarifying pathways to International Financial Centre (IFC) status, to promote inclusive growth across the continent
Member countries of the ARFC acknowledged the urgent need for collective action to position Africa as a unified and attractive investment destination. With EnterpriseNGR’s chairmanship expected to usher in a new era of impactful engagement for the continent’s financial hubs, members were encouraged to actively contribute to flagship events and initiatives that will shape a dynamic agenda for the year ahead.
EnterpriseNGR is a dynamic, member-led organisation at the forefront of championing the advancement of the Nigerian Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector. With a steadfast commitment to fostering a conducive policy environment, EnterpriseNGR advocates the growth and development of all FPS sub-sectors, including Banking, Insurance, Capital Markets, Asset Management, Pensions, Non-interest Finance, FinTech, Professional Services (Legal Services, Accounting and Management Consulting), and Sustainable Finance, to position Nigeria as Africa’s premier financial centre.