« Franchising Is a Race Worth Running in Africa », Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye, President of the AFCAA 2026 Scientific Committee, Speaks.
She does not describe herself as a judge. She calls herself an architect.
For over a decade, Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye has been building quietly, deliberately, and at continental scale.
As CEO of Drawing Board by ACR Global, she has worked at the intersection of franchise ecosystem development and brand communications, advising networks, engaging policy makers, and running capacity-building programmes across Africa. She does not simply observe the African franchise landscape. She shapes it.
When the AFCAA 2026 (Africa Franchise & Commerce Associé Awards) reached out to ask her to chair their inaugural Scientific Committee, the answer was never in doubt. The mission was already aligned.
The conviction was already there. What the AFCAA needed was a voice of institutional credibility and panAfrican reach to sit at the head of its jury. They found her.
AFCAA 2026 · Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye · Drawing Board ACR Global
The AFCAA 2026 will be held in late November 2026 in Dakar, Senegal, on the sidelines of Franchise Expo Dakar 2026, the leading franchise exhibition in West Africa.
Organised by the AFCAD Foundation in partnership with the Association Sénégalaise de la Franchise, it will bring together seven independent jury members drawn from five institutions to deliberate on 13 official categories of distinction. Candidature is entirely free.
The merit of the dossier is the only currency accepted.
In this exclusive interview with Africa Franchise Forum Magazine (Official Media Partner of the AFCAA 2026) Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye speaks with the directness of someone who has no time for decoration and the warmth of someone who genuinely believes in what Africa’s franchise industry is becoming. She defines excellence in three words. She tells every candidate on the continent exactly why their story deserves to be seen. And she names, with quiet certainty, what this inaugural ceremony will mean ten years from now.
Her words are not a press release. They are a founding statement.
Vision & Personal Journey.
Funmilola, you have spent years building franchise ecosystems across Africa. When you were first approached to chair the AFCAA 2026 Scientific Committee — what was your immediate reaction, and what made you say yes?
The Vision of the AFCAA 2026 aligns with a subsect of our Mission at CEO Drawing Board and ACR Global. We are architects of the African Franchise Ecosystem and a credible, well structure award system will certainly be a catalyst to the growth of our Franchise brands and a signal to the Global Franchise Industry that Africa is ready to play.
The AFCAA 2026 is described as ‘a founding institutional act’ — not just a gala. What does that distinction mean to you, and why does it matter for the African franchise landscape in 2026?
It is a foundational brick laid in the African Franchise Ecosystem and indeed a timely one. A big well done to the team for the foresight of putting this together. Now it must gain industry wide acceptance
CEO Drawing Board by ACR Global sits at the crossroads of franchise development and brand communications. In what ways does this dual perspective make you uniquely suited to lead the scientific oversight of these awards?
What we do is amply the African Franchise Ecosystem, develop the Framework through Partnership and Liaison with policy makers on the Continent and Continue Capacity Building on the continent to facilitate Franchise trade. We areexcited to validate the success of any African Franchise Brand that contributes to our Continental Brand Equity. It therefore an aligned honour and pleasure to prescide over the Jury for the first African Franchise Awards.
The AFCAA Mission & Standards.
The AFCAA has made an absolute commitment: candidature is free, and financial power plays no role in the jury’s decisions. How critical is this ethical framework to the long-term credibility of any African awards ceremony?
It is important for use to develop a transparent framework to competing brands. This will allow them compete on merit that will promote the growth of our continent in the Franchise industry rather than mere aggrandisement. There must be an impact and parallel growth in the African Franchise Industry GDP as a result of this Awards
You will chair a jury of 7 independent experts drawn from AFCAD, ASF, OAC/UAC, and Africa Franchise Forum Magazine. How will you ensure that the deliberation process is both rigorous and fair — especially for a first edition where no precedent exists?
Simplicity breds excellence !
- We will ascertain the 5 key areas used to measure each award category with crystal clear description and benchmarking samples
- We will hold an internal vote for the nominees online and at the event and
- The jury will use the metrics approved select the finalist.
The AFCAA covers 13 categories, from established franchise networks to individual franchisees, women entrepreneurs and emerging concepts. What is the common thread you will be looking for across every dossier — regardless of category?
- Innovation 2. Customer Acceptance 3. Market Adaptability
The African Franchise Ecosystem.
Over 60% of African commerce still operates informally. From where you stand today — what is the single most important shift needed to accelerate the formalisation of African commerce, and is the franchise model equipped to deliver it?
There is no single most important shift required but consistent Market Growth and Framing Focus /support from all players in the Ecosystem. A collaborative visual of building this framework is important. From the Founders, to the policy makers and organizations like CEO Drawing Board, AFCAA, African Franchise Forum, the Associations, AAFDGT and others that will come. We must all do our part to make it work.
Africa has 54 countries, multiple legal frameworks including OHADA, diverse consumer markets and radically different infrastructure realities. What does ‘pan-African excellence’ actually mean in this context — and how can a single set of evaluation criteria be meaningful across such diversity?
Regarless of the diversity accross continents, there are 2 kings that determine success 1. Regional Customers 2. Global Investors. We must listen to their feedback across boarders
Women entrepreneurs are centred in AFCAA Category 4. In your experience building franchise ecosystems across Africa — what structural barriers still prevent African women from scaling their commercial ventures, and what would a meaningful awards recognition actually change for them?
There are no structural barriers that uniquely affect women in this Industry. Only barriers of the mindset, personal ambition and internal doggedness.
Speaking to Sponsors & Partners.
If you were speaking directly to a CEO or a Head of Marketing who is considering sponsoring the AFCAA 2026 — what would you tell them about the return on investment that this awards ceremony represents, beyond the logo on the banner?
The Franchise Market is a unique Market to hold visibilty. In one brand investment you can be exposed to several countries accross the globe, Franchise investors, the hosting Government players and channel managers. Sponsorship for this event is unique placement with potentially higher returns
Being associated with a first edition always carries risk — but also historical opportunity. What would you say to a potential Platinum Partner who hesitates because this is uncharted territory?
Emerging Markets hold the highest risk, yet exponential returns
The Call to Action.
To the franchise network operator in Lagos, the women entrepreneur in Abidjan, the emerging concept founder in Nairobi who is reading this interview right now ; what would you tell them about why their story deserves to be in front of the AFCAA 2026 jury?
You have done the work and now you should recieve your medal for being amabassadors of African Franchising to the Global Franchise Market. We celebrate you and must support you for the next stage of your growth, because a medal from this award is a signal to Global investors. Take the step to be nominated today!
Ten years from now, when the AFCAA has become the reference distinction for African organized commerce — what do you hope people will say about what this inaugural 2026 edition made possible?
This was the flame that sparked the African Franchise Ecosystem fire. The light that woke up all stakeholders saying » Franchising is a race worth runnining in Africa »
Apply to AFCAA 2026 — Free of charge 📩 copil.africafranchiseawards@gmail.com 📱 +225 07 58 72 58 21 (WhatsApp) Deadline: September 15, 2026 Subject: AFCAA 2026
