Africa Franchise Centre (AFC), a private sector-led initiative meant to promote franchising across the African region, will be formally unveiled on November 21, in Lagos.
The Centre, an initiative of African Franchise Solutions Limited, is meant to support the public sector objectives of African countries to fight poverty and create wealth by empowering the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector across the region.
The theme of the event is “Franchising as a Business Growth Model,” while the managing director of EatNGo Nigeria Limited, Master Franchisees for the Domino Pizza and Coldstone Creamery brands, Antoine Zammarieh, is the keynote speaker.
A number of public and private sector executives including members of the diplomatic community are expected at the event that will also include the unveiling of the Centre’s logo as well as announcement of the centre’s programmes for promoting franchise development across the region.
Among these programmes are an Annual Franchising Forum, Franchising Roadshows to various African countries and the Africa Franchise Expo, an annual event, the first of which is meant to hold in Lagos next year.
“We see a few Africa-owned businesses that can take on new lives if they are franchised. But they need to make that transition”, says AFC’s Project Director, Constance Nwokejiobi, adding that“ if African businesses are franchised, with Africa being the focus of this effort, the much-talked-about inter-Africa trade flows can have more chances of being realized, with the numerous ancillary benefits.”
