African capital market stakeholders have called for stronger domestic capital mobilisation, deeper financial-market integration and improved access to financing for energy and infrastructure projects across the continent.

The call was made at the inaugural Africa Capital Week 2026, held in Nairobi, Kenya, where policymakers, regulators, investors, capital-market operators and business leaders examined ways to strengthen Africa’s capacity to finance its economic development.

The five-day forum, hosted at the Argyle Grand Hotel under the theme, “Deepening Capital Markets to Advance Africa’s Economic Sovereignty,” focused on the challenges of connecting available capital with credible, investment-ready projects.

Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, highlighted the role of deeper capital markets in mobilising financing for development and strengthening economic resilience.

Agama also emphasised the importance of greater cooperation among African capital markets and measures to improve investor confidence, particularly in supporting infrastructure and other long-term investments.

At a session on financing renewable energy and climate change, Lead, Business Performance & JV Assets at NNPC Limited, Olamide Efosa-Austin, said Africa needed an integrated approach to financing its energy future.

Efosa-Austin argued that the continent’s energy transition should not be reduced to a choice between conventional and renewable energy sources, noting that energy policy and financing must also address industrialisation, energy security,
employment and economic growth.

“Africa does not have the luxury of an either/or energy transition,” she said.
She called for increased mobilisation of domestic and institutional capital, alongside international investment, to expand Africa’s participation in global energy financing.

Efosa-Austin also stressed the need for capital deployed in Africa to generate long-term economic value, amid the continent’s financing requirements for energy infrastructure and broader development.

The discussions highlighted the industry challenge of matching available capital with bankable projects capable of attracting long-term investment and generating productive economic activity.

Stakeholders also identified regulatory cooperation and greater integration of African financial markets as important to improving the flow of capital across borders.

A major outcome of the event was the Nairobi Declaration 2026, which sets out commitments covering regulatory cooperation, greater integration of African securities exchanges, development of an Africa Bankable Projects Pipeline, and mobilisation of institutional capital for infrastructure.

The declaration is aimed at strengthening financial integration and improving the deployment of capital towards projects considered critical to Africa’s economic development.

The organisers said Africa Capital Week would become an annual continental platform, with future editions hosted on a rotational basis across African countries.