President Bola Tinubu has called on African leaders and business executives to embrace shared ownership and continental scaling as the only path to sustainable economic transformation, speaking at the 13th Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
Tinubu Arrives in Kigali for High-Stakes Summit
The Nigerian leader arrived in Kigali on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, immediately after concluding his participation at the Africa-France Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. He was received at the Presidential Wing of the Kigali International Airport by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda.
Bilateral Talks with President Kagame
Shortly after arrival, Tinubu met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the Urugwiro Presidential Village. The two leaders agreed to revive the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission (JPMC) originally signed in 2021, and committed to deepening cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Nigeria is set to host the next JPMC meeting.
Key outcomes of the bilateral meeting included agreements on boosting bilateral trade, tourism, visa facilitation discussions, and stronger anti-corruption partnerships.
The Forum: Scale or Fail
The two-day forum, themed “Scale or Fail: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership”, opened on May 14 at the Kigali Convention Centre with over 2,800 delegates from more than 70 countries. Six African heads of state attended, including Presidents Kagame, Tinubu, Oligui Nguema (Gabon), Ghazouani (Mauritania), Chapo (Mozambique), and Doumbouya (Guinea).
Speaking at the presidential panel, Tinubu declared: “There is no African country without its particular commodity. For Africa to grow, we must scale — together.”
Nigeria’s Economic Agenda on Display
Nigeria’s delegation leveraged the forum to present the country’s reform agenda to global investors. Tinubu announced that Nigeria will host the AfCFTA Council of Ministers and Digital Trade Forum in June 2026, as well as the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) and Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) from November 5–11, 2026.
Kagame Slams Minerals Coercion, Champions African Unity
President Kagame, in his opening remarks, criticized what he termed “minerals coercion” by external powers and called for Africa to take full ownership of its resources. “Africa’s future must be driven by Africans,” he told the gathering.
What This Means for Nigeria
Tinubu’s three-nation diplomatic tour — Nairobi for the Africa-France Summit, Kigali for the Africa CEO Forum — signals Nigeria’s renewed push for continental leadership, investment attraction, and economic diplomacy. With major trade events coming to Nigeria later this year, the administration is positioning the country as Africa’s premier investment destination.
The Africa CEO Forum 2026 runs from May 14–15 in Kigali, Rwanda.
This article was written by Kiki Jagaban for Kikisblog.com.ng. Follow us for the latest news and updates.
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