Excitement is definitely building in the FCT with the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo (RACE 2026) just days away, Abuja is effectively becoming the regulatory and fintech capital of the continent this week.
The atmosphere in the city is charged as industry leaders settle in for those preliminary strategy sessions.
The Core Mission for RACE 2026 themed “Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy for a Borderless Economy.” Will be held at the prestigious State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. With the main event scheduled to run from May 20 – 22, 2026.
The conference is being held under the high-level patronage of the Office of the Vice President, in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI).
While the main stage opens on the 20th, this week’s “pre-meetings” in Abuja are where the real groundwork is being laid. Expect to see behind-the-scenes alignment between the CBN, NIMC, and international bodies like GIABA to harmonize cross-border payment policies.
Finalist preparations for the Global Startup World Cup – Regional Challenge. The winner in Abuja will head to Silicon Valley to compete for a $1 million investment prize.
Tech firms and investors are already hosting private mixers at hubs across the FCT to secure partnerships before the formal exhibition begins.
The sessions starting next week will tackle the “heavy hitters” of the digital economy with Cross-Border Payments realising the $3.4 trillion potential of the AfCFTA.
The Expanding Nigeria’s digital ID ecosystem for smarter onboarding, AI & Cybersecurity to Protect critical financial infrastructure in an era of rapid automation and Financial Inclusion to bridge the gap for SMEs, women, and rural populations.
It’s an ambitious agenda, but if these preliminary meetings are any indication, Abuja is ready to set the pace for a “borderless” African economy.
