ConstructAfrica Webinars
Navigating Opportunities: The Construction Sector under the AfCFTA Protocol
Navigating Opportunities: The Construction Sector under the AfCFTA Protocol
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was designed to reshape how business is done across the continent. But, what does it actually mean for the construction and infrastructure sector today?This webinar creates space for a grounded, honest conversation on how the AfCFTA protocol is intersecting with the construction sector: where opportunities may be emerging, where friction still exists, and what industry players need to be paying attention to now. Rather than assumptions or headlines, the discussion will explore lived realities, early signals, and strategic questions shaping the sector under this new trade framework.
Event Details
About This Event
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was designed to reshape how business is done across the continent. But, what does it actually mean for the construction and infrastructure sector today?
This webinar creates space for a grounded, honest conversation on how the AfCFTA protocol is intersecting with the construction sector: where opportunities may be emerging, where friction still exists, and what industry players need to be paying attention to now. Rather than assumptions or headlines, the discussion will explore lived realities, early signals, and strategic questions shaping the sector under this new trade framework.
Panelists
Emily Mburu-Ndoria
PANELIST
Emily is the Director, Trade in Services, Investment, IPR and Digital Trade at the AfCFTA Secretariat and has over 20 years of work experience with international and regional organizations. She has expertise in trade in services, trade negotiations, digital trade, trade and investment policy, and regional integration of African countries. Her initiatives at the AfCFTA Secretariat include providing technical and strategic policy leadership and facilitating the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, especially the Protocol on Trade in Services, Investment, IPR, and Digital Trade. Emily’s career started at UNCTAD in Geneva, providing technical assistance on trade negotiations and implementation for developing countries for over ten years. She then joined COMESA, where she managed and coordinated regional negotiations on trade in services, including the movement of businesspersons, supporting the COMESA Business Council in private sector development, investment, and capacity building. She also worked with the SADC and EAC Secretariats, prior to joining the AfCFTA Secretariat. She lectured at the WTO Regional Trade Policy Course for English-Speaking countries.
Jumoke Ogundare
PANELIST
Jumoke Ogundare is an experienced executive leader with over three decades of strategic and operational experience across financial services and infrastructure sectors. She serves as Group Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Lagoon Highway Limited, leading efforts to develop and deliver critical transportation infrastructure. Previously, she held leadership roles, including CEO of Asset & Resource Management Holding Company Limited (ARM), where she oversaw investment strategy, asset management, and institutional growth. Her experience across infrastructure development and investment provides valuable perspective on advancing Africa’s built environment and unlocking opportunities across regional markets.
Eng. KAZAWADI Papias Dedeki
PANELIST
Eng. KAZAWADI Papias Dedeki is a professional civil engineer, certified project manager, accredited mediator, arbitrator (MCIArb), and FIDIC Dispute Avoidance/Adjudication Board (DAAB) Practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in infrastructure, sustainability, and engineering policy across Africa. Founder of TASKS AFRICA CBC and inventor of the HAIR–STEIC Framework, he is Immediate Past President of Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO) and Institute of Engineering Rwanda (IER), and a former anti-corruption committee chair at World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO).
Dr. Hadeer Ashraf
PANELIST
Dr. Hadeer Ashraf is the Head of International Finance and Economic Analysis – BDD at The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.). She specializes in macroeconomic analysis, sovereign risk assessment, and infrastructure finance across Africa, MENA, and the Gulf. Her expertise includes macroeconomic assessment, strategic partnerships, investor engagement for strategic projects, and enhancing project financing under EPC+F models through collaboration with multilateral development institutions and export credit agencies, contributing to regional development and sustainable growth strategies.
Lovemore Bingandadi
PANELIST
Lovemore Bingandadi, FCILT, is a Corridors, Transport and Transit Facilitation Expert with over 40 years’ experience in Africa’s trade and economic corridors development, transport policy, regulatory harmonisation, and infrastructure facilitation. He has played a key role in major regional initiatives, including the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP), the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme, and the development of legal and institutional frameworks for several African trade corridors. Lovemore currently advises on continental transport and corridor development initiatives across Africa.
Dr. Segun Faniran
PANELIST
Dr. Segun Faniran is the Founder and Publisher of ConstructAfrica, a leading platform for market intelligence and thought leadership for Africa’s construction and infrastructure sectors. A qualified civil engineer and construction disputes specialist with over 35 years of international experience, he has advised on major infrastructure and capital projects across Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and beyond. Dr. Faniran is widely recognised for his expertise in infrastructure delivery, project governance, construction law, and strategic industry engagement across the African built environment ecosystem.