AWC STATEHOUSE DESK
May, 2026 – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of the 13th edition of the prestigious Africa CEO Forum, where he is expected to present Nigeria’s ongoing economic reform agenda and engage top African and global business leaders on investment and regional integration.
President Tinubu landed at the Presidential Wing of the Kigali International Airport on Tuesday and was received by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, alongside Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda.
Also on hand to welcome the Nigerian leader were the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ibrahim Zanna; and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.
The Africa CEO Forum, founded in 2012 by Jeune Afrique Media and co-hosted by International Finance Corporation, has grown into Africa’s largest annual gathering of chief executives, investors, policymakers, and development partners.
This year’s edition is themed, “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” with discussions expected to focus on regional integration, industrial expansion, private sector financing, digital innovation, infrastructure development, and cross-border investment partnerships.
President Tinubu is scheduled to speak on the topic, “Holding the Line: Nigeria’s Reform Bet in a Fractured World,” where he is expected to defend and highlight the impact of the administration’s economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange market reforms, banking sector recapitalisation, tax restructuring, and investment-driven industrial policies.
The Nigerian leader is also expected to use the platform to reassure investors of Nigeria’s commitment to macroeconomic stability, private sector growth, and regional economic cooperation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Presidential aides said Tinubu will hold several bilateral meetings with African leaders, international investors, and multinational business executives on the sidelines of the forum to strengthen economic partnerships and attract new investments into Nigeria’s critical sectors, including energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and the blue economy.
Analysts believe the forum provides another strategic opportunity for Nigeria to position itself as a leading investment destination in Africa amid ongoing efforts to stabilise the economy and expand intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The summit is expected to attract hundreds of CEOs, policymakers, development finance institutions, and government officials from across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, all seeking pathways to accelerate economic growth and sustainable development on the continent.
Observers also note that Tinubu’s participation underscores Nigeria’s increasing diplomatic and economic engagement across Africa following his recent appearances at major regional and international forums focused on trade, investment, maritime security, and financial reforms.
The President’s engagements in Kigali are expected to further deepen Nigeria’s role in shaping conversations around Africa’s economic future, industrialisation strategy, and private sector-led development.
