DataPro Unveils Panellists for 6th International Rating Webinar

DataPro is set to host the 6th edition of its International Rating Webinar on October 8, 2026, bringing together leading academics, policymakers, and financial industry professionals to examine strategies for improving Africa’s sovereign credit standing.

The webinar, themed “Sovereign Credit Rating: Africa’s Roadmap to Investment Grade Status,” will focus on the structural reforms, debt sustainability measures and economic policies required to attract long-term institutional capital and strengthen African countries’ positions in global financial markets.

DataPro said the event would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to examine the challenges and opportunities surrounding sovereign credit ratings and the steps African economies can take to achieve investment-grade status.

The distinguished panel of speakers includes Dr. Misheck Mutize, Lead Expert on Credit Rating Agencies at the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). He is playing a key role in advancing Africa’s domestic financial markets and global capital positioning while spearheading efforts toward the establishment of the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA).

Also on the panel is Mrs. Oluwakemi Babalogbon, Executive Director, Risk Management, at the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). With more than two decades of experience in corporate finance, asset management, and public finance, Babalogbon oversees the strategic management and value optimisation of Nigeria’s state-owned assets.

The webinar will also feature Dr. Daniel Cash, Founder of the Credit Rating Research Initiative, Associate Professor at Aston University and Senior Fellow at the United Nations University’s Centre for Policy Research. A former Fulbright Scholar and author of nine books on the credit rating industry, Cash is expected to provide an academic perspective on the global rating landscape.

Another panellist, Prof. Dr. Torsten Schmidt heads macroeconomics and Public Finance Research at RWI-Essen. His research focuses on empirical macroeconomics, international business cycles, macroeconomic developments, and financial development, providing important insights into the factors influencing sovereign economic assessments.

Completing the panel is Prof. Kai Gehring, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Bern. His research covers political economy, sustainable development, and public economics, including the role and effectiveness of international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

DataPro said the webinar is designed to deepen discussions on how African countries can strengthen economic governance, improve debt sustainability, enhance institutional credibility, and ultimately secure greater access to international capital.

Participants are expected to gain insights into the future of Africa’s sovereign credit landscape and the reforms needed to move more African economies towards investment-grade ratings.

Registration for the webinar is currently open, with DataPro encouraging interested stakeholders to secure their places ahead of the October 8 event.