8th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Summit sets a bold benchmark for strategic economic transformation in Lagos
LAGOS, NIGERIA — The 8th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Conference (APSCHA 2026) opened in Lagos with an unmistakable message: supply chain is now the chief engine of Africa’s economic growth. Convening top-tier industry leaders, policy makers, and enterprise executives at the Oriental Hotel on 28th July, the premier summit cemented its legacy as the continent’s ultimate platform shaping the future of procurement, transportation, and trade governance.
The summit drew a high-caliber delegation of director-generals, corporate C-suite executives, and industry practitioners spanning various verticals across key African markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
Designed around high-level keynotes, expert panel sessions, technical presentations, and an elite black-tie awards gala, APSCHA 2026 tackled the continent's most pressing supply ecosystem challenges under its overarching golden theme: “Unlocking Value Across Africa’s Supply Ecosystem: Procurement, Logistics and Transportation in Action.”
A Visionary Call to Action: Shifting Supply Chain from Cost Centre to Growth Engine
Opening the summit, Mr. Akin Naphtal, Group Chief Executive Officer of InstinctWave Group and host of APSCHA 2026, delivered a compelling welcome address that challenged African governments and corporate boards to fundamentally reframe their supply chain strategies. He emphasized that supply chain management must evolve beyond a passive, administrative back-office function into an indispensable driver of profitability, structural resilience, and long-term economic competitiveness.
"The message is clear: supply chain is no longer a back-office function. It is the primary lever for cost control, resilience, and competitive advantage," stated Akin Naphtal. "Globally, the supply chain market is valued at approximately US$19.3 trillion, with nearly 80 percent of corporate revenues flowing directly through supply chain activities."
Turning to the African landscape, Naphtal highlighted the immense untapped opportunity, noting that while Africa spends over US$500 billion annually in public procurement alone, substantial economic value continues to drain away through logistical bottlenecks and weak local integration. He urged delegates to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by building robust ports, streamlined customs procedures, and modern digital supply networks.
Institutional Leadership Keynotes: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Ecosystems
The executive keynotes underscored the urgent need for systemic reform, sustainability, and technological modernization across both public entities and multinational corporations.
Dr. John Ngeno, General Manager of Supply Chain & Logistics at Kenya Power, delivered a keynote emphasizing the power of inclusive procurement. He outlined how Kenya Power achieved a remarkable 188% surge in e-mobility electricity consumption through proactive infrastructure logistics and shared how targeted procurement programs (AGPO) are directly integrating youth, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) into commercial supply chains.
Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (represented by Deputy Director Akintunde Moruf Subair), detailed how state-level digital governance is accelerating public works delivery while preserving financial integrity.
Dr. Marcus O. Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted agricultural logistics as the cornerstone of continental food security and rural wealth creation.
Adeola Oduntan, General Manager of Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Management at MTN, alongside Cephas Afebuameh, Group Director of Supply Chain at Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc, articulated how human capital development and strategic vendor management drive corporate agility in volatile markets.
High-Stakes Panel Dialogues: Multisourcing, Local Content, and Digital Governance
Across four intensive panel sessions, industry titans engaged in candor-filled debates addressing structural vulnerabilities, local empowerment, and executive representation:
• Building Resilient Supply Chains: Panelists including Cephas Afebuameh (FMN Plc), Adeola Oduntan (MTN), Dr. John Ngeno (Kenya Power), and Radhe Shyam Jha (Chief Supply Chain Officer, SevenUp Bottling Company) dissected nearshoring, multisourcing, and buffer strategies required to insulate African businesses from global economic shocks.
• Digital Governance in Public Procurement: Led by QS Raheem Abdulbaki (CEO, Kwara State Public Procurement Agency), Engr. Dr. Ine Briggs (Director General, Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement), Akintunde Moruf Subair (Lagos State PPA), and Makar Dominic Orduen (Chairman, APPON FCT Chapter), the panel advocated for automated, open-data e-procurement systems to eliminate systemic leakage and restore public trust.
• Local Content in Practice: Wale Emilola (Chief Procurement Officer, CapitalSage Holdings), Temitope Adedeji (GM Supply Chain, Ekofin Nig Ltd), Monicah Wanjiku Mwangi (Head of Procurement, PPP Directorate, Kenya National Treasury), and Dr. Marcus O. Ogunbiyi scrutinized the reality of local content policies, demanding a move from symbolic compliance to genuine indigenous industrial capacity.
• From Back Office to Boardroom: Oluwatosin Olapo (Head of IT Value Management & FinOps, FCMB) and Diana Ofeimun (Senior Professional, Arla Global Dairy Products) demonstrated how advanced cost intelligence and FinOps are finally earning supply chain leaders dedicated seats at executive board tables.
Cutting-Edge Presentations: Leveraging AI, Automation, and Cross-Sector PPPs
Technological innovation and public-private synergies formed a central axis of the summit’s technical presentations:
Aderinola Oloruntoye, Senior Industry Value Advisor – Africa at SAP, delivered an illuminating session on “Vendor Management in the Digital Age.” He demonstrated how enterprise automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Predictive Data Analytics are revolutionizing strategic supplier relationships, lowering transaction overheads, and enabling real-time risk mitigation.
Monicah Wanjiku Mwangi, Head of Procurement at the PPP Directorate, Kenya National Treasury, delivered a vital blueprint on “Cross-Sector Collaboration.” She demonstrated how well-structured Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and inclusive local procurement policies serve as catalysts for massive infrastructure deployment without over-leveraging public balance sheets.
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