President Bola Tinubu has called for deeper African economic integration and industrialisation at the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya.
According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the summit, co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, brought together leaders from over 30 countries, with opening remarks from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chair Mahamoud Youssouf.
Tinubu said Africa must move from raw material exports to value-added manufacturing, backed by fairer financing and stronger regional coordination.
He highlighted Nigeria’s maritime potential and offered the Deep Blue Project as a shared intelligence platform for Gulf of Guinea states to strengthen maritime security and attract investment.
He also criticised high borrowing costs across Africa, warning they constrain industrial growth, and pointed to Nigeria’s reforms, including subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and $45.5 billion banking recapitalisation, as steps to stabilise the economy, though debt servicing is projected to reach $11.6 billion in 2026.
On migration, Tinubu urged greater investment in jobs and infrastructure to address root causes, alongside stronger African cooperation under AU migration frameworks.
On the sidelines, he met Madagascar’s President Michael Randrianirina and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to host the 2026 CAF Awards.
