Africa Forward Summit:President Tinubu champions Africa's economic integration and maritime development
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Nigeria’s government, diplomatic, and business delegation to the Africa Forward Summit on Tuesday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, advocating for stronger economic integration and policies that prioritize Africa’s growth and prosperity.
The Africa/France summit, co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, brought together leaders and senior officials from over 30 countries. Opening remarks were delivered by Ruto, Macron, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and African Union Commission Chair Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
On the sidelines, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with Madagascar’s President, Michael Randrianirina, and met with CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, affirming Nigeria’s readiness to host the 2026 CAF Awards.
During the summit, Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s potential in the blue economy, emphasizing regional coordination and maritime security as drivers of investment and growth. “Maritime sovereignty does not repel investment — it attracts it,” he said, unveiling plans to share Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project maritime intelligence infrastructure with Gulf of Guinea states. He stressed that secure sea lanes, predictable regulation, and robust governance are essential to Africa’s blue economy transformation.
On international finance reform, the President noted Nigeria’s efforts to stabilize its economy, including removing fuel subsidies, unifying the exchange rate, recapitalizing banks with over $3.4 billion, and exiting the FATF grey list. Despite these reforms, he warned that Africa continues to face systemic barriers to industrialization due to the global financial architecture.
Tinubu also addressed migration and security, urging international partners to invest in countries of origin to reduce irregular migration and calling for coherent global and regional migration frameworks.
Nigeria’s delegation included key ministers, such as Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele, and Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside leading business figures including Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
The summit featured ministerial and business engagements focused on entrepreneurship, AI, digitalization, agro-industry, cultural industries, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing actionable strategies to move from political rhetoric to industrialization, sustainable growth, and regional collaboration.
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