Bridging the gap between international capital, opportunity, and the African growth story

The Continental Investment Drift Summit, aka Horizon 2.0, being held on 9 October in the global investment hub of London, is not just a knowledge-sharing platform, but a springboard for real business engagement and partnership and will help spotlight practical pathways for African investment, says Christian Aniukwu, Managing Partner of leading Nigerian firm Stren & Blan Partners.

“We always try to create practical pathways for clients and for investors, on how to navigate regulatory frameworks in various sectors,” says Christian. “We help de-risk investments and achieve sustainable outcomes to make sure whatever their desire or aim was for coming into Nigeria or Africa to do business, is achieved.”

Stren & Blan Partners, a pan-African full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Lagos that provides services to diverse local and multinational clients, held its first Horizon event in London, “New Horizons: Exploring Opportunities in Africa’s Legal Landscape”, in March 2024.

“We are passionate about bridging the gap between international capital and the African growth story,” says Christian, who also heads Stren & Blan’s Intellectual Property Prosecutions, Data Protection, and Corporate Services practice groups. “Our first London event was born out of our desire to create a platform where global investors, African businesses, and policy makers could engage meaningfully on opportunities within Africa’s rapidly evolving market.”

The firm had found that international clients coming into Nigeria, or Africa more generally, to do business not only wanted to understand the impact of local laws, but African economies, politics, rule of law, and other matters. Stren & Blan tries as much as possible to challenge misperceptions about the continent, providing practical advice and insights into risks and opportunities, and showcasing Nigeria and Africa in a positive light to attract investments and overseas investors.

Stren & Blan Partners received very positive feedback from last year’s Horizon attendees, who appreciated the practicality of the conversations, calibre of speakers, how the event showcased “the good side and bad side” while offering solutions, and great opportunities for connecting with lawyers, investors, and decisionmakers.

“Our Horizon event is not just a knowledge sharing platform, but a springboard for real business engagement and partnership,” says Christian, noting the impact of last year’s summit included post-event collaborations in areas like energy finance. “All these outcomes reinforced our belief that Horizon has a unique role to play in shaping Africa’s investment narratives. For Horizon 2.0 we’re building on that momentum by expanding our focus to cover new sectors. We are amplifying investor invoices and ensuring conversations lead to actionable outcomes.”

Stren & Blan Partners will host Horizon 2.0, the Continental Investment Drift Summit, at ME London on 9th October 2025. With a theme of “Africa Unlocked: Capital, Compliance, Connectivity and Market Trends”, the summit will examine how regulatory shifts, cross-border finance, and new energy and technology priorities are influencing investment decisions across the continent. Global investors, policymakers, and business leaders will gather to unlock opportunities, tackle challenges, and chart Africa’s next phase of growth.

“We are eager to see how the cross-pollination of these ideas at Horizon 2.0 will translate into investments that not only generate returns, but also contribute to Africa’s long-term growth,” says Christian. “The opportunity to shape these vital conversations and connect the right people is what we value the most. Our vision is for Africa to be seen not just as a frontier market, but as a global investment destination of choice.”

Stren & Blan Partners will host Horizon 2.0, a summit on “Africa Unlocked: Capital, Compliance, Connectivity and Market Trends”, at ME London on 9 October 2025. Register via this link, or for inquiries, reach out to contact@strenandblan.com.