By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

Nigeria has officially secured the hosting rights for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, positioning Lagos as the centre of Africa’s largest marketplace for trade and investment.

The hosting agreement was signed on Monday in Lagos by the Federal Government in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank, the African Union Commission, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
Scheduled for November 5–11, 2027,
the event is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors and participants from more than 100 countries, with organisers targeting $50 billion in trade and investment deals.
Nigeria takes over hosting duties from Algeria, which staged the fourth edition of the fair and recorded $49.94 billion in trade agreements.

The trade fair is a flagship initiative supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area, aimed at deepening intra-African trade and accelerating economic integration across the continent.

The 2027 edition will hold under the theme “Global Africa Repositioned – From Market Access to Market.”
Its programmes will include large-scale trade exhibitions, investment forums focused on AfCFTA opportunities, diaspora engagement through Global Africa Day, and platforms connecting businesses with governments through B2B and B2G meetings.

Other highlights include the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme for the creative industry, an Africa Automotive Show, an AU Youth Start-up Pavilion, and the Africa Research & Innovation Hub designed to connect academia with industry.

Chairman of the IATF2027 Advisory Council and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo described the signing as a major milestone for both Nigeria and the continent.

He noted that hosting the fair in Lagos carries historic significance, recalling the city’s role in shaping Africa’s economic policy through the Lagos Plan of Action, which championed industrialisation and economic self-reliance.
Obasanjo expressed confidence that the 2027 edition would surpass previous fairs in both scale and impact.

President of African Export-Import Bank, George Elombi, praised Nigeria’s entrepreneurial strength and market size, saying the country was a natural host for the trade fair.

He noted that the event aims to expand Africa’s internal trade by helping businesses build supply chains, create jobs and strengthen economic cooperation across the continent.

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the event will come at a time when the global trading system faces significant challenges.

According to her, hosting the fair provides an opportunity for African economies to align markets, industries and talent while advancing the AfCFTA agenda.
She described the 2027 fair as a “defining moment” in accelerating intra-African trade and investment.

Since its launch in 2018, the Intra-African Trade Fair has generated more than $167 billion in trade and investment deals and attracted over 180,000 visitors from 132 countries.

Officials say Nigeria’s large population, industrial base, natural resources and thriving SME sector place the country in a strong position to drive regional value chains and deepen continental trade.

Officials from the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat and the African Union said Nigeria’s hosting of the event will strengthen efforts to operationalise the AfCFTA and promote Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation.

They added that the 2027 edition should serve as a catalyst for stronger investment flows, expanded regional production networks and greater trade among African countries.