On April 21, 2026, The Economist held its annual edition of The World Ahead 2026, with a focus on Nigeria. The event was produced by CT Productions. Making it the fifth consecutive year the future-focused publication has been held in Lagos, Nigeria. The event was held at the Sky Lounge at Eko Hotel & Suites.
The Deputy Editor of The Economist and Editor of The World Ahead, Tom Standage, labelled 2026 “a year of uncertainty, but also a year that will offer vital indications of the world’s future direction.” In Africa, the magazine wrote that “Defining this new era will be left to Africans themselves. For too long have they relied on outsiders to set their priorities.” This sentiment of sustainability and building Nigeria’s future from within was emphasized on throughout the evening.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, in his executive address, explained that intentional governments do not wait passively for the future to arrive, but equip their institutions and people to compete and thrive. He added that Lagos sees “resilience as an economic priority and not just an environmental slogan”, placing sustainability at the centre of the state’s competitive edge.
During a fireside chat, John G. Coumantaros, Chairman of Nigeria’s largest food and agro-allied company, Flour Mills of Nigeria, said the company aims to increase yields from two to five tonnes, potentially generating billions in GDP for the rural economy. He noted that “Every great country needs a strong agricultural base. From surplus value in agriculture, you create surplus value in industry.”
In the first panelist session, George Thorpe, Director of PCL Energies S.A.; Engr. Obi Nnanna, Founder and CEO of KALTANI; and Daniel Nielson, Editor and Journalist of The World Ahead: Nigeria and The Guardian, discussed enhancing gas infrastructure to cut energy costs, decoupling Nigeria from external shocks, and using innovative solutions to recycle waste into local products.
Another panelist session featured Dr. Adeyinka Adeyemi, Board Advisor at the University of Lagos; Ayoola Ogunyomi, CEO and Co-founder of Umbrella; Denise Eseimokumoh, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire Nigeria; Harry Daskalakis, CEO of the Business College of Athens; and Mark Roberts, CEO of Red Line Foundry. The speakers spotlighted the country’s cultural capital and the need to support the next generation of creative entrepreneurs through funding and education.
The event was supported by key partners, which included Flour Mills of Nigeria as Diamond Sponsor and the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service as the Silver Sponsor.
The World Ahead has become a key conduit for dialogue around the state of Nigeria. In her welcoming address, Camelia Oros Tsarouchis, Founder and Managing Director of CT Productions, spoke about the role of media in creating more sustainable and responsible narratives, noting that the industry needs “honest narratives that connect intention with action.”
