By Onyekachi Victoria Philip
Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Ghana are set to lead a major East-West Africa trade, tourism, investment and cultural summit in Addis Ababa and Wolyta Soddo, Ethiopia, with business leaders, investors, and government officials, expected to gather for new partnerships and investment opportunities.
The programme, tagged “Motherland Beckons: East-West Africa Amalgamation Through Tourism, Trade & Creative Arts,” will take place from September 15th to 23rd 2026.
The event is being organised by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Motherland Beckons, IPADA Initiatives and Accelerating Africa’s Growth Connect (AAGC).
It will bring together business owners, investors, chambers of commerce, government representatives and other partners from Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries.
The theme of the programme is “Connecting East and West Africa through Trade, Tourism, Investment, Culture.”
The programme will focus on creating real business opportunities through business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings, investment discussions, partnership agreements, government meetings, business tours and cultural activities.
Important arrangements of event
The programme will begin in Addis Ababa on September 15 with the arrival of delegates and a welcome dinner.
The official opening and launch of the East-West Africa Amalgamation Initiative will take place on September 16.
Business sessions will focus on investment opportunities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.
Guests will also discuss cross-border trade, transportation, visa issues, product standards, certification and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Business owners and investors will have opportunities to meet directly through organised B2B matchmaking sessions.
On September 18th, delegates will travel from Addis Ababa to Wolyta Soddo for the second part of the programme.
The trip will include cultural activities, the Gifata Symposium and Investment Forum, tourism activities and Ethiopian New Year celebrations.
One of the major highlights will be a journey to Soddo involving 50 traditional kings, according to the programme.
The Soddo activities will also feature music and fashion shows involving Ethiopian, Nigerian, Kenyan and Ghanaian participants.
La Campagne Tropicana Project
The September 21st programme will focus on turning some of the proposed investment ideas into practical projects.
One of the major projects listed is the proposed La Campagne Tropicana Hot Springs and Hills Resort, described as a 150-acre agro-eco-tourism and heritage resort.
The project is expected to create investment opportunities, including holiday homes.
Other programmes include the Corporate African Eco Retreat (CAER), which will provide companies with nature-based spaces for retreats and team activities.
The Youth African Tourism Expedition (YATE) will target young people between 18 and 40, with activities including hiking, jet skiing, horse riding and mountain climbing.
There will also be Kamp Africa, designed for young people between 10 and 18 to learn about African culture through activities such as basket weaving, talking drums and African dance.
The summit will cover several sectors, including trade, tourism, agriculture, aviation, oil and gas, education and creative arts.
Africans in the diaspora are also expected to participate and explore business and investment opportunities across the continent.
The programme is expected to lead to new business partnerships, investment deals, tourism projects and stronger cultural cooperation between East and West Africa.
The summit will end on September 23rd after delegates return from Soddo to Addis Ababa.