(3 Minutes Read)Recent forecasts by the International Monetary Fund indicate that Nigeria could emerge as Africa’s largest contributor to global economic growth in 2026, narrowly surpassing South Africa. According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, Nigeria is expected to account for roughly 1.5 per cent of global real GDP growth in 2026. From a continental perspective, Nigeria’s projected increase in its share of global growth highlights both promise and complexity. It underscores the rising importance of African economies in a global context where growth in many advanced economies is slowing. While this framing captures part of the story, it can obscure the specific institutional, historical and social conditions shaping African economies.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 02, 2026 11:13 UTC