President Tinubu Africa Must Put Africa First, Deepen Intra African Collaboration Says At Africa CEO Forum In Kigali

President Tinubu Africa Must Put Africa First, Deepen Intra-African Collaboration Says at Africa CEO Forum in Kigali President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger African unity and economic integration, urging African leaders and business executives to “put Africa first” while deepening intra-African collaboration to drive sustainable growth across the continent. Tinubu made the remarks during his participation at the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, where heads of state, investors, and private sector leaders gathered to discuss strategies for accelerating Africa’s economic transformation and regional competitiveness. The President emphasized that Africa’s long-term prosperity depends on the continent’s ability to strengthen internal trade, boost value chains, and reduce overdependence on external markets. He stressed the need for African countries to harness the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA to expand cross border investment and industrial cooperation. According to Tinubu, African economies must move beyond fragmented development models and instead embrace shared prosperity through integration, infrastructure development, and private sector-led growth. He noted that stronger collaboration among African nations would improve resilience against global economic shocks and enhance the continent’s bargaining power in international trade. The President also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms, presenting them as part of broader efforts to position the country as a competitive investment destination within Africa. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses through policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, and regional partnerships. The Kigali forum, which attracted more than 2,000 participants including CEOs, policymakers, and investors from across Africa and beyond, focused on the theme of scaling African businesses through shared ownership and deeper regional cooperation. Tinubu’s message aligns with the broader agenda of the Africa CEO Forum, which seeks to promote stronger private sector participation in driving Africa’s economic growth and integration. The President is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with other African leaders and global investors on the sidelines of the summit to advance Nigeria’s economic interests and deepen regional collaboration.