TN Naija has officially announced Connect & Ignite 2026 (CXI’26), a flagship full-day conference and interactive evening gathering designed to empower technology professionals across the UK–Africa corridor. Taking place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, in Birmingham, United Kingdom, the event is centered around the theme “Unlocking Opportunities Across Borders.” Positioned as a premier platform for dealmaking, market expansion, and talent mobility, CXI’26 aims to transform high-level conversations into measurable career and venture growth.
Building Synergy Across the UK–Africa Tech Corridor
The UK–Africa tech ecosystem represents one of the most dynamic cross-border channels for venture capital, engineering talent, and digital innovation. CXI’26 is curated primarily for African and Nigerian tech leaders—including startup founders, software engineers, product operators, and angel investors—who are actively expanding their footprints across both regions.
Explaining the vision behind the convening, Dele Bakare, Director at TN Naija, highlighted that the corridor itself functions as a vibrant community where strategic deals originate and cross-border expansion takes root. The choice of Birmingham as the host city reflects its growing status as a diverse technology hub and an ideal center for corridor-wide collaboration.
Daytime Agenda: Keynotes, Focused Huddles, and Corridor Honours
Expecting over 400 attendees, the daytime programming runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and features a rich schedule tailored for actionable learning and recognition:
Opening Keynote & Fireside Chat: A high-impact session led by a prominent diaspora operator framing the strategic future of cross-border technology expansion.
Interactive Lunch Huddles: Facilitated group discussions covering critical operational themes, including venture fundraising, remote engineering talent, fintech regulation, and immigration pathways.
The Corridor Honours: A 90-minute awards ceremony celebrating outstanding founders, investors, operators, and community builders who are driving innovation across the corridor.
Evening Networking Social, Sponsorship, and Registration
Following the formal daytime program, CXI’26 transitions into a structured evening social designed to foster genuine business relationships. Moving away from conventional networking receptions, the afterparty features five guided activities, including rapid speed-networking rounds, a 60-second founder pitch wall, a “Find Your Co-Founder” matchmaking segment, an interactive community input wall, and host-led music entertainment.
Organizations seeking brand alignment, deal flow, and access to top-tier African tech talent can explore various corporate sponsorship packages. Speaker submissions and partnership applications are currently open. Interested participants, founders, and investors can secure their pass by visiting the official registration page at tnnaija.com/connect.
