By Ayo Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Nairobi to participate in the high-level Africa-France Summit focused on strengthening cooperation between Africa and France on key global development priorities, including green growth, energy transition, digital transformation, and sustainable financing.
The summit is being co-hosted by Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, bringing together African leaders, policymakers, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for accelerating economic transformation across the continent.
President Tinubu arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 12:00 a.m. on Monday ahead of the summit scheduled to hold from May 11 to May 12.
The engagement is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic priorities, particularly in advancing partnerships that support infrastructure development, climate resilience, industrial growth, and technological innovation.
With the theme, “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” the summit provides a platform for in-depth discussions on Africa’s evolving development needs, including economic diversification, youth empowerment, peace and security, climate adaptation, and digital economy expansion.
The meeting is also expected to address structural reforms in global financial systems, with African leaders advocating for more equitable access to development financing and increased support for emerging economies.
According to the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu will, after the Nairobi engagements, proceed to Kigali to attend the annual Africa CEO Forum scheduled for May 14 and 15.
The forum, themed “Scale or Fail,” is one of Africa’s most influential business gatherings, designed to accelerate economic integration, expand cross-border investment, and strengthen collaboration between governments and private sector leaders.
Organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, the forum will convene more than 2,000 top executives, investors, and policymakers to explore pathways for building resilient and competitive African industries.
At both the Nairobi summit and the Kigali forum, President Tinubu is expected to present Nigeria’s ongoing reform agenda aimed at improving the investment climate, enhancing macroeconomic stability, and positioning the country as a leading destination for global capital.
He is also scheduled to hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with African and international business leaders to deepen cooperation and attract strategic investments into priority sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
