​Digital Trade & Technology

​Focus of the Day

​Day 3 positions Nigeria as a digital trade and technology anchor for West Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area. The programme explores how scale, policy, infrastructure and capital must align to transform digital innovation into durable economic power. Discussions span digital infrastructure financing, AI governance, cross-border trade systems and inclusive growth, with emphasis on global competitiveness and long-term investment credibility.

​Panel Session

​She Builds, She Leads, She Scales: Women Shaping Africa’s Economic Future

​Women have long driven Africa’s economic growth, yet access to capital, digital tools, and decision-making power remains uneven. This session explores how removing these barriers can unlock capital productivity, accelerate innovation, and deepen shared prosperity. Panelists will discuss how finance, technology, and leadership pathways can help women move from contribution to control, ensuring Africa’s economic transformation is built, led, and scaled by women. The conversation will also examine technology-enabled trade and SME value chains as levers for inclusive growth, highlighting practical capital, policy, and platform solutions that strengthen resilience and scale across the continent.

​Moderator

​Deepali Nangia

​Panelists

​• Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes- Founder and Managing partner, Aruwa Capital

​• Pauline Koelbl- Founder & Managing Partner, ShEquity

​• Lise Birikundavyi CFA -Managing Partner, BKR Capital

​• Payel Farasat MScFA - Chief Growth Advisor, FINCA International and FINCA