TN Naija today announced Connect & Ignite 2026 (CXI’26), a full-day conference and evening social bringing together Africans in tech, founders, engineers, operators and investors working across the UK–Africa corridor. The event takes place on Saturday, 29 August 2026, in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with the theme “Unlocking Opportunities Across Borders”
CXI’26 is positioned as the premier convening platform for professionals operating along one of the world’s most active tech corridors, a single day designed to turn conversation into deals, market entry, and career growth across borders.
“The corridor is the community, where deals happen, markets are entered, and careers are built across borders,” Dele Bakare, (Director TN Naija) said in describing the event’s purpose.
Who It’s For
CXI’26 is built primarily for Africans, predominantly Nigerians, in tech and tech entrepreneurship operating along the UK–Africa corridor, including founders, operators, engineers and investors. A secondary audience of venture capital firms, corporate sponsors, ecosystem enablers and innovation hubs will also attend, drawn by direct access to this high-value, specific community.
The organisers chose Birmingham this year deliberately, citing the city’s growing tech scene and diverse community as the right anchor for a corridor-wide conversation.
A Full Day of Programming
More than 400 attendees are expected. The day runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and includes: Opening keynote and fireside chat framing the corridor thesis, featuring a high-impact diaspora operator, founder or investor. Structured huddle sessions over lunch, each running at multiple facilitated tables covering topics from fundraising and engineering talent to fintech regulation and cross-border immigration.
Introducing Corridor Honours, a 90-minute awards session recognising founders, operators, investors, and community builders across the corridor.
Following the daytime program, CXI’26 continues with a structured evening social. Rather than a traditional networking reception, the afterparty features five moderated activities designed to drive real connection, including timed speed-networking rounds, a 60-second founder pitch wall, a “Find Your Co-Founder” matching activity, a community input wall, and a live DJ with host-led energy throughout the evening.
Join founders, investors, operators & innovation leaders as we explore opportunities across borders.
Register: tnnaija.com/connect
Sponsorship and Participation
CXI’26 offers different sponsorship tiers for organizations seeking brand alignment, deal flow and strategic positioning within the UK–Africa tech ecosystem. Speaker and partnership inquiries are open now.
About TN Naija
TN Naija is the organizer of CXI 2026, built to serve as the convening platform for the UK–Africa tech corridor, connecting the people building, funding and scaling businesses across both markets.
Media & Partnership Contact
TN Naija Email: hello@tnnaija.com
Web: tnnaija.com
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