The Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS) 2026
Countdown to Event
Going a Step Further…..Infrastructure, Investment, and Trade Opportunities
SAIS2025 was a demonstration of intent to facilitate the type of engagements among stakeholders that identifies and examines strategies and partnerships to leverage global investment interests in sports initiatives that can catalyse the development of the sports industry in Africa through mass participation in physical and outdoor activities in sports.
SAIS2026 sets the stage for insightful discussions, actionable strategies, and transformative collaborations on key resolutions from SAIS2025, in alignment with the vision to aggregate stakeholders to delve into the crucial role of sustainable investment in unlocking new opportunities in Africa’s sports industry.
SAIS 2025 – Key Events and Outcomes
ABIA SPORTS SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY
The signing of a Technical and Collaboration Agreement between Sport Nigeria and the Abia State Government for the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle that will lead the establishment of the first-of-its-kind Sports Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) in Sub-Sahara Africa which will leverage regional trade and aligns with the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
LAUNCH OF SPACES4SPORTS COMMUNITY SPORTS FACILITIES PROJECT
Spaces for Sports™ (S4S) is an initiative designed to provide and support the infrastructure necessary for promoting mass participation in sports and deliver increased demand for sports goods and services with a view to bridging the considerable gap in community sports infrastructure.
SAIS 2026 in Numbers
1
Keynote Address
1
Closing Address
4
Roundtable Sessions
12
Breakout Sessions
5
Special Sessions / Partnership Announcements
80+
Speakers and Resources persons
SAIS 2026
SPORT NIGERIA LTD/GTE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADING TECHNICAL ADVISORY PARTNERSA groundbreaking event bringing together visionary investors, policymakers, decision makers, sports business executives, athletes, media practitioners and innovative minds, to ignite a new era of growth in Africa
Theme: "Africa’s Sports Future - Finance and Investment Strategies to Unlock Infrastructure and Trade Opportunities"
Why attend?
01.
Connect with Key Stakeholders
Join peers, global investors, influential government officials, leading sports brands and pioneering African manufacturers on the continent to share your vision, strategies, and approach to the transformation of sports as a business sector and contributor to the African economy.
02.
Unearth Lucrative Investment Opportunities
Specially curated sessions showcasing strategies to stimulate and measure investor interest in financing sports development across Africa’s diverse sports infrastructure needs, manufacturing and trade possibilities.
03.
Witness Inspiring Innovation
Explore how collaboration mechanisms between the public, private and social enterprise sectors can deliver unconventional, Africa based and Africa focused solutions to the challenges of the sports industry in the continent.
04.
Embrace the Spirit of Unity
Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere of shared passion, cultural exchange, and boundless optimism to celebrate Africa’s sporting spirit by uniting to chart a clear definition of the models that should be considered in taking advantage of the transformational potential of sports as business
05.
Champion Sustainable Legacy
Be part of a movement identifying how best governments (national and subnational) and critical stakeholders should support the growth of the industry to deliver brand and business benefits to investors, value chain developers, athletes and other stakeholders for a sporting future that starts now
Who should attend?
- African States and Governments
- African Union (AU)
- AU Agencies and Ancillary Organisations
- African Union Sports Commission
- AfCFTA
- Government Officials (Ministers & Heads of Departments and Agencies)
- The Diplomatic Community
- Regional Economic Communities
- Policy makers and high-level government representatives
- State Governments in Nigeria
- Local Governments in Nigeria
- Trade Commissions/Agencies
- Development Finance Institutions
- Banks and Financial Institutions
- Multilateral Organisations, Development Agencies, Social Enterprise Organisations
- Private Equity Firms/Asset Managers
- Investors and financiers
- Chambers of Commerce
- High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs)
- Senior level business executives
- Project developers
- Corporate Organisations
- Professional Services – Lawyers, Medical Practitioners, Retailers, Accountants, Insurers, Educators, etc.
- National and Continental Sports Federations
- Team/Club Owners
- Team/Club Executives
- Athletes (Past and Current)
- Activation Partners – Event Organisers, Logistic Companies etc.
- Media Partners
- Sports Industry Value Chain Developers:
- Content/Media Agencies
- Real Estate Developers
- Merchandisers and Manufacturers
- Sport Medicine Practitioners
- Relevant Regulatory Agencies Across the Industry Value Chain
Agenda
Expected Outcomes from SAIS2026
SAIS 2026 is a continuation of the transformative engagements and discussions and far-reaching resolutions from SAIS 2025 for Africa’s sports industry - driving infrastructure based growth, inclusion, and sustainability.
SAIS 2026 will focus on both innovative strategies and securing tangible commitments from stakeholders, with expected outcomes including the following:
Soft Output
Building a Flourishing Sports Ecosystem
1. A Booming African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Actualising AfCFTA objectives of enabling free flow of trade in goods and services through a viable sports industry driven by investment and trade
2. Public-Community-Private (PCP) Driven Success
Securing commitment of national and sub-national governments to the target of repositioning the sports industry driven by private sector investment.
3. Cross-Fertilisation
Showcase new markets for the production and consumption of sports goods and services by leveraging the soft power of sports for Africa’s development and progress
4. Social Impact
Contribute to empowering youth, fostering a healthy lifestyle and social inclusion, bridging social divides, promoting gender equality through participation and leadership, and jobs in sports infrastructure and events
Register NowHard Output
Aggregating the Investment and Infrastructure
1. Investment Commitments
Secure the commitment of an investment pool of funds from finance institutions, DFIs and private investors for Dedicated Fund of $1 billion annually over the next 10 years
2. Commercial Impact Infrastructure Commitments
Showcase up to four (4) commercial impact infrastructure projects within and outside Nigeria and securing investment interest and participation in the showcased sport projects
3. Impactful Development Commitments
Showcase and secure investment commitment for Spaces4Sports community infrastructure projects in Nigeria , empowering local communities through the power of sports
Register