A new economic and cultural bridge between Africa and the United States (U.S.) is set to take shape in California, U.S., as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Founder and President of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Mike Dada; Governor of California, Gavin Newsom; Afretrade Chief Executive Officer, Lekan Salaam, and other prominent government, business and creative industry leaders are expected to headline the California–Lagos Business & Investment Summit, scheduled for September 17–18, 2026, in Sacramento and San Francisco, California.

The high-powered two-day gathering, themed “Building the California–Nigeria Business Bridge,” is expected to bring together influential business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, professionals and members of the African diaspora to explore new opportunities for trade, investment and cross-border collaboration.

The summit is a private sector-led initiative powered by Afretrade, the U.S. Diaspora United Chamber of Commerce, NIED Group and the Office of Diaspora Affairs of Lagos State, and is being curated to celebrate a landmark milestone in the growing economic relationship between California and Lagos.

As part of the programme, AFRIMA President will speak on “From Culture to Capital: Unlocking the California–Lagos Creative Economy.”

His presentation, “Investing in Music, Film, Intellectual Property and the Future of Africa–America Cultural Commerce,” will focus on the enormous economic opportunities within Africa’s creative sector and the need to develop stronger investment, intellectual property and commercial structures around the continent’s creative assets.

The presentation is also expected to examine how music, film, entertainment and intellectual property can serve as major drivers of economic growth while creating new channels for investment and business partnerships between Africa and the U.S.

In a related development, AFRIMA has entered into a strategic partnership with the California–Lagos Business & Investment Summit, strengthening the focus on the creative economy as an important component of the emerging California–Nigeria business relationship.

AFRIMA Regional Director, Central Africa, Nde Ndifonka, while speaking on the partnership, said music business development was central to AFRIMA’s mission.