Business leaders, policymakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and institutional thinkers converged at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on May 12, 2026, for the inaugural edition of the , a summit focused on shaping conversations around Africa’s economic growth, leadership direction, and continental collaboration.
Held under the theme “Driving Africa’s Growth through Innovation, Strategic Leadership, and Collaboration,” the summit featured keynote sessions and panel discussions exploring governance, infrastructure, healthcare investment, innovation, exports, education, technology, aviation, and institution building across Africa. The event also created opportunities for networking, partnerships, and strategic conversations around sustainable development, with notable partners including Crest Africa and Empire Magazine Africa supporting the summit alongside other organizations and stakeholders.
One of the standout sessions at the summit was delivered by Praise Fowowe, who spoke on the topic “Human Capital, an Asset: The Family System as Africa’s First Leadership School.” During his presentation, he emphasized the critical role families play in shaping leadership values and developing human capital long before professional or academic exposure.
“Every executive in the room understands the value of human capital. Yet the greatest institute of building human capital is quietly collapsing, family,” he said.
Fowowe explained that values such as punctuality, resilience, accountability, consistency, patience, integrity, respect, and discipline are often built within family systems and later reflected in leadership and professional environments. He also called for stronger investment in family systems, family conscious organizations, and more intentional preparation of future generations.
Another major session featured Dr. Adedayo Benjamin Laniyi, who spoke extensively about institution building, coordinated growth, and the need for Africa to focus on systems capable of outliving individuals.
“Our continent is filled with resources, but inclusion is struggling to keep pace and innovation is not thriving as it should,” he said.
Laniyi stressed that Africa needs stronger systems, structures, and institutional thinking rather than leadership built only around visibility or personalities.
“As Africa, we do not need more businessmen. We need systems, structures, and infrastructure that can outlive the builders,” he stated.
Speaking on governance and nation building, Funso Doherty highlighted the relationship between political systems and national prosperity. According to him, nations succeed when their people prosper and when political systems support development rather than concentrate power and resources in the hands of a few.
“The public sector dominates in the efforts of nation building. For a nation to prosper, the people need to prosper,” he said.
The summit also featured a panel discussion focused on how Africans can innovate around their unique realities and opportunities. During the session, Vera Ohioma encouraged Africans to move beyond discussions into practical collaboration and execution while exploring opportunities connected to AfCFTA and Afreximbank initiatives.
Healthcare entrepreneur Dr. Tomi Kogo also emphasized the importance of long term healthcare investment, noting that healthcare should be treated as a necessity capable of contributing meaningfully to Africa’s GDP growth despite slower investment returns.
The event further featured contributions from Engineer Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, whose presentation focused on infrastructure and economic growth across Africa.
Organizers described ABLS 2026 as a platform designed to foster partnerships, unlock investment opportunities, strengthen bilateral relationships, and inspire practical solutions capable of advancing Africa’s future through leadership, innovation, and collaboration.
