Manny Ita –
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has announced the renewal of its partnership with Ecobank Nigeria and Soto Gallery for the third consecutive year to host the +234 Art Fair, a major international exhibition scheduled to take place from March 5–8, 2026. The upcoming edition, themed “Inclusivity,” will be held at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, serving as a strategic platform to spotlight 260 exhibitors and bridge the gap between Nigeria’s creative economy and the global finance community.
The organizers stated that the 2026 theme reflects a deliberate commitment to expanding access within the creative sector and moving beyond traditional centers of privilege to spotlight talent from underrepresented geographies. According to the fair’s curator and founder of Soto Gallery, Tola Akerele, the focus on inclusivity is intended to “widen representation and reposition visibility within the art space.” Akerele noted that the fair is “more than an exhibition; it is a movement to amplify Nigerian voices, celebrate our stories, and connect our artists to wider markets across Africa and beyond.”
Commenting on the initiative, the President and CEO of AFC, Samaila Zubairu, emphasized the corporation’s dedication to unlocking the commercial and cultural value of Africa’s creative industries. “Now in our third year of supporting the +234 Art Fair, AFC remains committed to championing platforms that unlock the commercial and cultural value of Africa’s creative industries,” Zubairu said. He further remarked that the collaboration aims to “support an ecosystem that enables African artists to scale their reach, retain value on the continent, and position African creativity as a globally competitive economic force.”
The fair is designed to function as an economic driver, integrating curated exhibitions, panel discussions, and masterclasses to foster dialogue on sustainable development. Omoboye Odu, Head of SME Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, described the event as a “purposeful intervention” aimed at reshaping how creativity is discovered and sustained. “Art belongs to everyone. This fair intentionally broadens the frame—moving beyond traditional centres of access to spotlight talent from the margins, from new geographies, and from voices that deserve to be heard,” Odu stated.
The 2026 program is set to include expanded features such as a Lagos Street Art collaboration and the Lagos Gallery Weekend, alongside an immersive creative space for children and a VIP collectors’ lounge. Bolaji Lawal, Managing Director and Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, reiterated the bank’s role in the sector, stating, “As a pan-African banking group, we recognise the transformative power of the creative sector. We are committed to providing platforms that enable African creatives, including visual artists, to access markets, visibility, and opportunities locally and internationally.”
