Africa Credit Expo 2026
The Africa Credit Expo 2026 is expected to bring together financial institutions, business leaders, fintech companies, policymakers, entrepreneurs and students to examine how improved access to credit can support economic growth and financial inclusion across Africa.
The event, organised by CreditRegistry, is scheduled for November 13, 2026, at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, Lagos.
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Themed around reimagining Africa's credit economy, the expo will examine the role of credit information, financial technology, responsible lending and institutional collaboration in expanding access to finance for individuals and businesses.
Its discussions will focus on how financial institutions can improve lending decisions, how businesses can demonstrate creditworthiness and how technology can help extend formal credit services to underserved populations.
Credit Access and Lending Infrastructure in Focus
A major focus of the expo will be the infrastructure required to make credit more accessible and reliable across African markets.
The programme includes discussions on the future of lending, bringing together perspectives from banks, credit bureaus and institutional investors.
Participants are also expected to examine how credit scoring, data analytics and artificial intelligence can improve lending decisions, reduce risks and help financial institutions assess borrowers more effectively.
Another session will consider how alternative data and embedded finance can extend credit to individuals and businesses with limited conventional credit histories.
These issues are particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often struggle to obtain financing because of inadequate financial records, limited collateral and lenders' concerns about repayment risks.
Policymakers to Examine Digital Lending and Consumer Protection
The expo will also address the regulatory challenges associated with expanding digital credit and financial services.
A planned regulatory dialogue will examine consumer protection, data privacy, ethical debt recovery and the rules governing digital lending.
The discussions are expected to consider how regulators can encourage financial innovation while protecting borrowers from abusive lending practices and inappropriate use of personal information.
The programme will also explore cross-border credit portability and the role of financial infrastructure in supporting trade and investment across African markets.
Financial Institutions, Businesses and Students to Participate
The event is designed to bring together different participants in the credit ecosystem, including banks, lenders, fintech companies, investors, regulators, entrepreneurs and consumers.
Its published speaker line-up includes Foyinsolami Akinjayeju, Chief Executive Officer of Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA); Tinuola Aigwedo, Executive Director of Strategy and Operations at the National Credit Guarantee Company; and Babatunde Akin-Moses, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sycamore Group.
Other listed participants include representatives of OPay Microfinance Bank, Lendsqr, the Money Lenders Association and other financial technology and credit-sector organisations.
Students and young professionals are also among the groups the organisers intend to engage, with discussions covering the skills and opportunities emerging within Africa's financial services industry.
Why Credit Access Matters to Nigeria's Housing Market
The development of a stronger credit system has implications for Nigeria's housing and real estate market, where access to long-term financing remains a major challenge for developers and prospective homeowners.
Limited mortgage access, high borrowing costs and inadequate credit information make it difficult for many Nigerians to obtain formal housing finance.
A more effective credit infrastructure could help lenders assess borrowers more accurately, improve risk management and expand financing opportunities for individuals and businesses.
For property developers, improved access to business credit could support land acquisition, construction financing and the expansion of housing projects. For prospective homeowners, more reliable credit assessment systems could help financial institutions develop lending products that reflect borrowers' actual repayment capacity.
However, better credit information alone will not resolve Nigeria's housing finance challenges. Mortgage affordability will also depend on interest rates, household incomes, land documentation, property prices and the availability of long-term funding.
The expo therefore provides an opportunity to examine how improvements in the wider credit ecosystem could contribute to financing across productive sectors, including housing and real estate.
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