The maiden edition of the African-Caribbean Franchise Exhibition (ACFE) 2025 has brought together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, trade associations, legal and global franchise experts to spotlight franchising as a transformative vehicle for economic development in Africa and the Caribbean.

The event, held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, yesterday, was themed “Driving African-Caribbean Product Market and Branding Expansion through Franchise Development, Alignment and Standardisation”.It featured panel discussions and franchise showcases from across both regions.

Experts agreed on Africa’s underutilisation of the franchising model compared to other regions of the world, even as they expressed optimism that
Africa could leapfrog the world if the challenges of underutilisation were addressed quickly.

The event, organised by the CEO, Drawing Board, under ACR Global, aimed atfostering franchising as a tool for global market expansion of African and Caribbean brands.

Speaking further on the rationale for the exhibition, the President of ACR Global, Funmi Bajulaiye, said: “ACFE 2025 seeks to position 100 brands as Fortune 500 contenders while leveraging cultural synergies between Africa and the Caribbean.”

Chairman of the exhibition and CEO of Arravo Technologies, Dr Ayo Adegboye,said franchising engagement was long overdue, noting that Africa laggedbehind the rest of the world in a knowledge-based economy.