IMT summit targets regional industrial growth

Across West Africa, a new industrial landscape is emerging, driven by established manufacturing and processing sectors alongside advancements in innovation, digitisation, and next-generation industries.

In Nigeria, the incoming National Industrial Policy places technology adoption, equipment financing, and digitised manufacturing at the centre of the country’s economic transformation efforts.

At the same time, innovative industries such as large-format 3D printing and gas-fuelled manufacturing are gaining traction. An example of this is RusselSmith’s partnership to deploy industrial-grade additive manufacturing in Nigeria and across West Africa, a development that is opening new value-chain opportunities in the energy, maritime, construction, and defence industries.

Across the wider region, several economies are also advancing ambitious industrial upgrade programmes. Senegal is progressing with the development of a second refinery as part of a broader strategy to expand domestic processing capacity and improve energy security.

In Ghana, the economy grew by 6.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, according to Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu, marking one of the country’s strongest quarterly performances in recent years. Complementing this growth is a landmark agreement to develop a $5bn fertiliser hub and related industrial activity, which underscores Ghana’s deliberate efforts to onshore critical inputs and strengthen its agro-industrial manufacturing base.

These developments highlight a broader regional dynamic in which governments, investors, and business leaders are shifting away from purely extractive economic models toward industrialisation anchored in technology, regional integration, and sustainable value creation.

To sustain this momentum and create room for broader stakeholder participation, dmg Nigeria events, in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has confirmed that the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit & Exhibition, themed “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity,” will now hold from 3 to 5 March 2026 in Lagos, according to a statement.

The West Africa IMT Summit is expected to serve as a regional platform to examine how policy shifts translate into new industrial opportunities, increased cross-border supply-chain integration, and expanded private-sector partnerships. The event will also provide an avenue for stakeholders to engage on the policies and reforms shaping the region’s next phase of industrial development.

Speaking on the region’s progress and the role of the Summit, Wemimo Oyelana, Portfolio Director – Africa and Country Director – Nigeria at dmg events, said the next phase of industrialisation will be defined by innovation and coordinated policy.

“The next chapter of West Africa’s industrial growth will be shaped by innovation in areas such as advanced manufacturing, gas-based production, technology adoption, and stronger policy alignment. West Africa IMT is designed to serve as the central platform for shaping the region’s industrial transformation, setting strategic priorities, and defining the industry agenda. We are convening industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and investors to turn ideas, reforms, and emerging technologies into real industrial outcomes across the region,” she stated.

At West Africa IMT 2026, industry leaders, policymakers, stakeholders, and investors will gain firsthand insights into the region’s fast-evolving industrial landscape and the opportunities driving sustainable growth.

Through high-level discussions, technical sessions, and strategic networking, delegates will explore emerging investment frontiers, policy frameworks, and cross-border collaboration models capable of accelerating manufacturing competitiveness across West Africa.

From Nigeria’s technology-enabled industrial reforms to Senegal’s expansion in refining, Ghana’s agro-industrial investments, and the region-wide rise of advanced manufacturing, West Africa is positioned for its next major industrial leap. The West Africa IMT Summit will function as a launchpad, where policy, project sponsors, and private capital converge to accelerate tangible manufacturing outcomes for the region.