Nigeria is set to host a major continental policy and technology engagement in 2026, as organisers of the RegTech Africa Conference and Expo (RACE 2026) formally unveiled details of the event at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.
The conference, scheduled for May 20 to 22, 2026, will be hosted by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion, and in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
Speaking at a news briefing, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Cyril Okoroigwe, described RACE 2026 as Africa’s leading platform for dialogue at the intersection of regulation, technology and economic development.
He said the conference is designed to address regulatory and infrastructure gaps that continue to limit cross-border trade, financial flows and digital innovation across the continent.
According to Okoroigwe, RACE 2026 is anchored on the vision of “Africonomy,” which envisages Africa as a connected, trusted and innovation-driven economic space aligned with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
AfCFTA is projected to integrate a $3.4 trillion market of about 1.4 billion people across 54 countries.
Okoroigwe noted that despite AfCFTA’s promise, fragmented regulations, weak interoperability and regulatory uncertainty still constrain cross-border payments, trade and digital services, resulting in lost economic opportunities for African countries.
He explained that the conference, themed “Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy for a Borderless Economy,” will focus on promoting regulatory innovation and policy alignment, encouraging the deployment of trusted digital infrastructure such as interoperable payment systems and digital identity frameworks, and advancing financial and digital inclusion.
He added that the event will prioritise small businesses, startups, women, youth and underserved communities, while strengthening collaboration among regulators, governments, financial institutions, technology innovators and development partners.
The conference is also expected to showcase African investment opportunities in compliance, fintech, cybersecurity and digital services.
Organisers said Nigeria’s hosting of RACE 2026 underscores the country’s growing role as a continental hub for policy dialogue, financial innovation and digital economic leadership, while supporting Africa’s broader push for integrated digital markets and inclusive economic growth.
Also speaking virtually, Acting Principal Officer, Legal and Law Enforcement at the GIABA Secretariat, Ms. Gina Wood, said the conference comes at a critical time as West African countries prepare for the third round of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism evaluations.
She said findings from GIABA’s second round of mutual evaluations showed the need for countries to move beyond technical compliance to effectiveness, stressing improved coordination, risk understanding, modern supervision and the use of technology to protect financial systems.
Wood commended the Federal Government for supporting the RegTech Africa initiative, noting that sustainable reforms require strong political will and deeper public-private sector collaboration.
She reaffirmed GIABA’s commitment to supporting member states through capacity building, technical assistance, policy guidance and regional cooperation, describing RACE 2026 as a timely platform to advance a trusted, inclusive and future-ready regulatory framework for Africa’s digital economy.
Thursday’s event marked the official curtain-raiser for the 2026 conference, with a call on the media to help shape public understanding of how regulation, innovation and technology can jointly drive Africa’s borderless digital economy.
By Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Follow us on:
