DealMakers AFRICA to Host West Africa Mergers and Acquisitions Awards in Lagos

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

DealMakers AFRICA has announced plans to host the West Africa edition of its Mergers and Acquisitions Awards in Lagos, as the platform continues its effort to recognise advisory firms shaping corporate finance activity across the region.

The awards, which are scheduled to hold in Lagos, will recognise advisory firms involved in mergers and acquisitions, equity raisings, listings, debt financing and private equity transactions across West Africa. The initiative forms part of DealMakers AFRICA’s broader mandate to track and analyse deal activity across the continent, excluding South Africa.

Founded in 2008, DealMakers AFRICA publishes quarterly reports capturing transactions across African markets and identifying the advisory firms involved. These firms are subsequently ranked in annual league tables based on both the value and volume of deals completed, with rankings produced on a country-by-country basis.

According to the organisers, the awards are primarily determined by objective criteria, focusing on the number and value of transactions concluded within the period under review. However, three categories, including Deal of the Year, Private Equity Deal of the Year and Individual DealMaker of the Year, are subject to additional review based on nominations submitted by advisory firms across East and West Africa.

Commenting on the initiative, co-founder of DealMakers AFRICA, Marylou Greig, said the awards continue to reflect the resilience of advisory firms operating within the region despite prevailing economic conditions.

She said the outcomes of the awards highlight the strength of the West African dealmaking landscape, noting that even within a complex global and regional environment, market participants have maintained a proactive approach to transactions.
“The quality of transactions completed during the year reflects not only strong deal-making capability but also the depth of professional expertise that exists across the region’s advisory firms,” she said.

DealMakers AFRICA held its first standalone awards ceremony in Nairobi in March 2019, before expanding the initiative to Lagos with its inaugural West Africa event in March 2024. The platform is expected to host dedicated ceremonies in both Nairobi and Lagos in 2026, as part of efforts to deepen engagement with advisory firms and stakeholders across both regions.

Greig noted that hosting the event in Lagos underscores the city’s position as a major financial and dealmaking hub in West Africa, adding that the awards aim to recognise professionals who contribute to the successful execution of complex transactions.

“Hosting the awards in Lagos highlights the city’s role as a key financial and deal-making hub for the region. The awards recognise the advisers, financiers and legal professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring complex transactions to completion. Their efforts help facilitate investment, support corporate growth and strengthen investment markets across the region,” she said.

She also emphasised the collaborative nature of the industry, stating that the awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of multiple stakeholders involved in each deal.

“The success of the firms and individuals recognised at this year’s events underscores the collaborative nature of the M&A ecosystem. Each transaction is the product of many months of hard work, creativity and negotiation, and the awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge those contributions,” she added.

The organisers said the long-term objective of the platform is to build closer relationships with advisory firms across Africa, with a view to expanding coverage beyond East and West Africa into North and Southern Africa. This, they noted, would support the development of more representative league tables and awards that reflect the realities of dealmaking activity across the continent.