Investors Connect, London (2026)
Vivacity Development convened its flagship global investment and workforce development event, Investors Connect London 2026, under its broader future-of-work and economic transformation agenda. The event was held on March 6, 2026, at Imperial College London.
Designed as a high-impact convening platform, the event brought together investors, founders, policymakers, ecosystem builders, and development partners to explore actionable pathways for strengthening Nigeria’s workforce while bridging global capital with high-potential ventures. The convening aligned with Vivacity Development’s mission to drive inclusive economic transformation, digital capacity-building, and sustainable workforce development across Africa.
Event theme
The event was themed:
“Talent, Trade & Transformation: Building Nigeria’s Workforce – Bridging Global Capital and High-Potential Ventures.”
The theme emphasized the intersection of talent development, cross-border investment, and structural transformation required to position Nigeria competitively within the global economy.
Speakers and Moderators:
Hosts / Co-Hosts:
- Eng. Kemi Ann-Melody Areola (CEO, Vivacity Development)
- David Lanre Messan (Founder & Partner, FirstFounders)
- Chidi Umeano (Principal Consultant, Codub Group)
Keynote / Strategic Address:
- Demi Ariyo (Founder & Managing Director, Lendoe) Delivered the Strategy Keynote Address, focusing on investment readiness, capital access, and scaling Nigerian ventures.
Speakers / Panelists:
- Takuma Terakunbo (CEO & General Partner, Uncovered Fund Inc.)
- Dr. Khadija Owusu (Founder, Akaya Foundation)
- Thomas Tega Tonukari (Founder, Nextvision Consulting)
- Ubio Obu (Founder, Remostart AI Lab)
- Stefanick Iviara (Easymade Books)
- David Lanre Messan (FirstFounders)
- Elaine Cunningham-Walker (Founder, Everything’s Education / Co-Founder, GMA Group)
- Dr. Bala Raju (Head of Business Development, ThinkBio.AI & COO, Silverile)
- Fade Ogunro (Founder & CEO, The Fade Agency)
- Dr. Lanre Phillips (CEO, Elpee Consult)
- Demi Ariyo (Lendoe)
Moderators:
- Ebaide Omiunu (Founder, The Ebaide Initiative)
- Abidemi Taiwo (Creative Director)
Sponsors / Partners:
The Investors Connect London 2026 event was supported by:
- Codub
- Elpee Consult
- Nigeria High Commission UK
- FirstFounders
- Startup Abuja
- The Ebaide Initiative
Event Structure:
The event featured a multi-layered engagement format designed to maximize knowledge exchange and deal flow:
- Strategy Keynote Address
- Expert Panel Sessions
- Fireside Conversation
- Investor–Founder Exchange
- Closing Reflections by Eng. Kemi Ann-Melody Areola
Core Objectives:
The event centered on the following strategic objectives aligned with Vivacity Development’s future-of-work framework:
- Bridging Capital and Talent: Connecting Nigerian startups and entrepreneurs to global investors and funding opportunities.
- Workforce Transformation: Advancing discussions on skills development, digital capacity, and future-ready talent pipelines.
- Strengthening Startup Ecosystems: Enhancing founder readiness, scalability, and sustainability of ventures.
- Promoting Trade and Partnerships: Facilitating cross-border collaborations and long-term investment relationships.
- Driving Inclusive Growth: Ensuring access to opportunities for youth, creatives, and emerging entrepreneurs within Nigeria’s evolving economy.
Key Insights and Thematic Highlights:
- Perception, Partnerships & Professionalizing the Creative Economy
Led by Abidemi Taiwo, this session emphasized that:
- Perception functions as a strategic economic asset, often shaping access to opportunities more than intrinsic capability.
- Nigeria’s creative sector holds vast potential but faces a monetization gap, requiring structured business models.
- Sustainable growth depends on long-term partnerships, not transactional collaborations.
- Urgent technology integration is critical to maintaining global competitiveness.
- Founder Capacity and Ecosystem Maturity
Dr. Lanre Phillips highlighted systemic gaps within the startup ecosystem:
- Founder success is strongly tied to education and structured capacity-building.
- The ecosystem’s current pace risks undermining depth, strategy, and sustainability.
- A deliberate “pause-and-reflect” approach is needed to reassess outdated models and align with current market realities.
- Market Intelligence and Business Model Clarity
An investor perspective underscored the importance of:
- Timing and contextual awareness in startup success.
- Deep understanding of local economic patterns (e.g., consumer spending cycles).
- Differentiating between customer and consumer dynamics.
- Moving beyond assumptions to uncover true value propositions within business models.
- From Talk Shop to Tangible Action
In her opening and closing remarks, Eng. Kemi Ann-Melody Areola reinforced that:
- Investors Connect is a convergence platform where talent meets capital and ideas meet execution.
- The risk of “talk-shop syndrome” must be actively mitigated through structured follow-through mechanisms.
- Participants must translate insights into measurable outcomes, particularly in unlocking funding for startups and enabling ecosystem growth.
Strategic Implications / Next Steps:
In alignment with Vivacity Development’s long-term agenda on the future of work and economic transformation:
- Institutionalize Founder Development: Integrate structured education, mentorship, and capacity-building into national and international startup support systems.
- Build Talent-to-Capital Pipelines: Develop platforms that continuously connect Nigerian talent and ventures to global investors.
- Strengthen Creative Economy Frameworks: Establish monetization systems, digital tools, and policy-backed programs to professionalize the sector.
- Enhance Market Intelligence Capabilities: Embed real-world, localized business insights into workforce and entrepreneurship training.
- Drive Accountability and Execution: Introduce post-event tracking systems, partnership frameworks, and measurable action commitments.
- Promote Inclusive Workforce Development: Expand access to digital skills, innovation ecosystems, and green/tech opportunities in line with Vivacity’s broader future-of-work vision.
Conclusion:
Investors Connect London 2026 successfully delivered on its mandate as a high-impact platform for investment facilitation, talent development, and economic dialogue. The event reinforced the critical role of capacity-building, strategic partnerships, and actionable insights in shaping Nigeria’s workforce and entrepreneurial future.
By bridging global capital with local innovation and aligning with its broader Future of Work and digital transformation agenda, Vivacity Development continues to position itself as a leading catalyst for workforce innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth in Africa and beyond.
