Policy makers, investors, entrepreneurs, trade bodies, legal and global franchise experts gathered to spotlight franchising as a transformative tool for economic development in Africa and the Caribbean at the first African-Caribbean Franchise Exhibition (ACFE).
The event, at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, featured panel discussions and franchise showcases. Experts agreed on Africa’s underutilisation of the franchising model compared to other regions, even as they hoped Africa can leapfrog the world if challenges of underutilisation are addressed.
Organised by CEO Drawing Board under ACR Global, it aimed to foster franchising as a tool for global market expansion of African and Caribbean brands. 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.”
Bajulaiye added: “Besides being the best way to achieve profitable cultural exchange, create market access for local brands, and enjoy diverse efficiency and innovation feats, franchising can scale African entrepreneurship rapidly.”
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship Development, Chalya Shagaya, hailed ACR Global for creating a platform for robust engagement between public and private sectors to drive franchising. Ms Shagaya expressed the government’s commitment to supporting, through policies and regulations, the development of a strong franchising ecosystem.
“My office is working daily to provide entrepreneurs with smarter regulation, digital tools, and start-up friendly policies.” She promised that government would collaborate with key stakeholders in franchising to ensure policies are relevant and adequate.
Chair of the exhibition and Chief Executive Officer of Arravo Technologies, Dr Ayo Adegboye, said franchising engagement “is long overdue,”noting that Africa lags behind in a knowledge-based economy. He said to close the gap, Africa needs to adopt incremental decision-making to involve development and deployment of homegrown technology.
Chief Executive of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, Sam Ohuabunwa, said considering the potential of franchising to boost revenue and SMEs, government should drive the conversation, and formulate adequate policies and regulations.
Read Also: Fed Govt issued 3.5m passports in two years, saved N1b from reforms
He said local brands must seek collaboration with foreign counterparts that have comparative technological or industrial advantages to strengthen local production.
Wincate Muthini, Senior Programme Manager, Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), who flew in from Kenya for the event, said sometimes Africans get stuck on possibilities and potential. She urged stakeholders to go beyond that and take action. Muthini assured of PACCI’s commitment to support initiatives such as the CEO Drawing Board that will put franchising on the front burner of Africa’s economic drive.
According to Wincate, there is a strong case for business collaboration across the African region to jointly develop products unique to Africa that can be exported to the rest of the world. Founder, FRANDIS Forum, and a franchise development consultant, Tayo Adedugbe, said for franchising to succeed, local brands must first dream big, beyond their borders, and then ensure they build a strong and successful brand locally.
Experts at the plenary sessions highlighted the challenges in the franchising ecosystem in Africa, including a knowledge and capacity gap, poor branding and documentation, a lack of regulatory framework, trust deficit, legal uncertainty, infrastructure, and funding challenges.
They, however, agreed that events like ACFE are the first steps to closing the challenge gaps. Other partners of the ACFE are the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ti-elle Global, Badella Flavinho Limited, In Franchise, Nigeria South African Chamber of Commerce, Standard Chartered Bank, Delicious Treats Franchise Barbados and the Pan African Association of Small and Medium Industries.
The project is a 3-step approach from ACFE 2025, to a Franchise side event in Algeria at the IATF in September 2025 and opportunities for Biashara Policy advocacy in Lome. All stakeholders have pledged to build our home-grown franchises.