In a landmark move to shift Africa’s economic trajectory from raw resource extraction to high-value industrialization, the inaugural “Africa We Build Summit” is set to convene in Nairobi from April 23 to 24, 2026. Hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in partnership with the Government of Kenya, the summit aims to address a critical paradox: while Africa is rich in resources, its development capital remains largely “trapped” or underutilized.
The event will gather infrastructure financiers, fund managers, and policymakers under the theme, “Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation,” to align domestic capital with bankable, job-creating projects.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of the AFC, emphasized that the continent’s primary challenge is not a lack of wealth, but the mobilization of it, noting that Africa is “capital-trapped” rather than capital-poor.
A core objective of the two-day event is to redirect a greater share of Africa’s substantial domestic capital base toward globally competitive industrial opportunities, reducing reliance on volatile foreign investment and creating more resilient local economies.
By channeling these resources into infrastructure at scale, the summit seeks to transform raw materials into productivity, sustainable jobs, and long-term prosperity.
High-level political backing for the initiative is underscored by the scheduled keynote address from Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, signaling a top-tier commitment to regional integration and large-scale development. The summit will also serve as the launchpad for the “State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026,” the most comprehensive analysis to date of the continent’s investment landscape, designed to identify capital flow gaps and outline a pipeline of priority projects.
This data-driven approach aims to ensure that capital deployment is matched with executive precision across various economic sectors.
Discussions will prioritize integrated infrastructure systems over standalone projects, with a specific focus on regional connectivity and value addition. Key initiatives under the spotlight include the Northern Corridor, linking the Port of Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan, as well as the East African Railway Master Plan to lower regional logistics costs.
