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Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger intra-African collaboration, insisting that African nations must prioritise one another in trade, investment and development if the continent hopes to achieve lasting prosperity.
Speaking during the presidential panel at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Tinubu said Africa could no longer afford to “look outward first” while neglecting opportunities within the continent. According to him, the continent must deliberately strengthen partnerships among African countries and businesses to unlock economic growth.
The Nigerian leader stressed that Africa’s ability to build scale would depend on how effectively countries invest in one another, improve regional trade and support cross-border expansion for African businesses. He said governments must also create stronger systems that allow young innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive.
“Our continent cannot build scale by looking outward first,” Tinubu said. “We must invest in one another, trade more with one another, build the corridors that connect our markets, ensure our innovative youthful population get the support they need, and give African businesses the confidence to expand across African borders.”
Tinubu also linked Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms to a broader continental vision, saying the policies were designed not only to address immediate challenges but also to position Nigeria as a leading force in Africa’s future economy. He pointed to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area, digital trade expansion, shared infrastructure, stronger logistics networks and commodities exchanges as key drivers of growth.
He argued that Africa’s population and natural resources could become powerful economic assets if governments and the private sector worked together more effectively. Tinubu also called for reforms to the global financial system, saying international institutions must recognise Africa’s realities and provide fairer economic treatment for the continent.
“The global risk and financial architecture must also give Africa a fair deal that recognises our local nuances and contexts,” he said.
Tinubu further praised Paul Kagame for Rwanda’s development strides and hospitality during the forum, describing the country as an example of discipline and effective leadership on the continent.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with Rwanda and other African nations to improve trade, production, connectivity and competitiveness across the continent.
