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Chidi Ugwu
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria has officially announced the 7th edition of the African International Conference on Islamic Finance (AICIF), scheduled for November 4th and 5th, 2025, in Lagos.
The landmark event is expected to serve as a vital platform for advancing ethical, non-interest financial principles across Africa’s emerging economies.
At a joint press briefing held on Tuesday in Abujah, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the SEC, described the conference as a pivotal moment for shaping the continent’s financial future.
He emphasized its importance in promoting Islamic finance as a resilient and inclusive alternative to conventional systems, particularly amid Africa’s quest for sustainable economic growth.
The conference’s theme, “Africa Emerging: A Prosperous and Inclusive Outlook,” directly supports the culmination of Nigeria’s Revised Capital Market Masterplan (2021-2025).
The masterplan focuses on transforming the capital market landscape by leveraging ethical finance tools to drive equity, prosperity, and resilience in African economies through innovative approaches.
AICIF 2025 promises a comprehensive agenda centered on actionable strategies to address urgent economic challenges.
These include critical areas such as infrastructure financing, sustainable and green investments, agricultural finance, and the transformative role of fintech within Islamic and broader capital markets.
Key session topics will feature discussions on “Unlocking Capital for Africa’s Infrastructure,” delving into strategies to mobilize funds for critical development projects.
The session on “Green and Ethical Investments: The Future of Energy Finance” highlights the growing nexus between Islamic finance and sustainable energy.
Agriculture financing also takes center stage with sessions titled “From Farm to Table through Ethical Options,” which aim to channel financial products to support agribusiness and food security through ethical means.
Reflecting the continent’s dynamic digital transformation, another major focus will be “The Role of Fintech in Transforming Islamic Finance and Capital Markets.”
This session will explore how technological innovation can enhance accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in non-interest financial services—key factors for expanding financial inclusion in underserved African markets.
Dr. Agama underscored the growing significance of Nigeria’s non-interest capital market, now valued at approximately ₦1.6 trillion.
This market growth is largely driven by Sukuk instruments—Islamic finance’s equivalent to bonds—evidenced by a remarkable 700% oversubscription in the most recent Sukuk issuance.
He attributed this success to the new 2025 Investments and Securities Act (ISA), which provides a modern regulatory framework to foster innovation and clarity, particularly benefiting non-interest products and Sukuk financing.
The conference will attract a distinguished gathering of regulators, financial sector executives, policy experts, scholars, and representatives from development finance institutions.
Together, they will engage in collaborative discussions aimed at harmonizing policies and designing innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of Africa’s diverse economies.
Central to the conference’s agenda is financial inclusion, with a goal to generate tangible economic outcomes such as increased investment flows, product innovation, and progressive regulatory reforms that enhance market integrity and protect investors.
The event will thus serve as a catalyst for driving ethical finance into the mainstream development agenda.
Closing the briefing, Dr. Agama called on media professionals and all stakeholders across Africa to actively participate in AICIF 2025.
He described it as the premier platform to champion ethical finance principles that underpin the development of a robust, inclusive, and sustainable financial ecosystem on the continent.
Also speaking at the event, Ummahani Amin, Managing Partner of Metropolitan Law Firm and Chairman of the AICIF 2025 Planning Committee, provided additional insights into the upcoming conference.
Amin highlighted AICIF’s stature as one of Africa’s most important gatherings for policymakers, regulators, investors, scholars, and innovators dedicated to ethical, inclusive, and sustainable finance growth.
Amin emphasized the strategic partnership between the Planning Committee and Nigeria’s SEC, calling it a critical alliance reflecting a shared vision to boost investor confidence, foster innovation, and uphold the integrity of the capital markets through Islamic finance.
He noted that this year’s edition comes at a crucial juncture as African economies increasingly seek innovative financial solutions that align with ethical principles to support infrastructure development, expand financial inclusion, and accelerate growth in real economic sectors.
The conference program will feature high-level panel discussions, technical workshops, and policy dialogues exploring the future trajectory of Islamic finance in Africa.
An Awards Night will also be held to recognize excellence and innovation, coupled with the announcement of the winners of the AICIF Pitch Competition—a spotlight for young entrepreneurs and pioneering ideas within the sector.
Concluding his remarks, Amin extended a warm invitation to partners, sponsors, media, and all stakeholders interested in shaping Africa’s financial landscape to actively engage in the conference.
He expressed gratitude to the SEC and collaborators for their ongoing support in driving the continent’s Islamic finance agenda.
As Africa continues to navigate the challenges of economic development, the African International Conference on Islamic Finance 2025 is poised to be a transformative event fostering sustainable financial growth and advancing the cause of ethical finance throughout the continent.
