Keyamo hails Tinubu’s Africa CEO forum speech, says Africa was “held spellbound”

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s participation and remarks at the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, describing his intervention as “erudite, pungent, thought-provoking and incisive,” and adding that Africa was “held spellbound” by his address.

Keyamo, in a statement on Friday, was reacting to President Tinubu’s remarks delivered during the Presidential Panel at the forum, where the Nigerian leader reaffirmed the need for African countries to prioritise intra-continental cooperation and economic integration.

Speaking at the forum, President Tinubu emphasised that Africa must “put Africa first” by strengthening collaboration among African nations and building stronger economic linkages across the continent.

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He argued that Africa’s development would not be achieved by looking outward first, but by deepening internal trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

“Our continent cannot build scale by looking outward first. 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,” the President said.

Tinubu further stated that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms were not only aimed at addressing past economic challenges but also positioning the country to play a leading role in Africa’s future economy.

He highlighted opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), digital trade expansion, shared infrastructure development, logistics networks, commodities exchanges and deeper private sector collaboration as pathways to continental prosperity.

The President also called for reforms in the global financial and risk architecture to ensure a fairer deal for Africa that reflects the continent’s unique economic realities.

He expressed appreciation to Rwandan President Paul Kagame for his hospitality and leadership, noting Rwanda’s example in governance discipline and development execution.

President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with Rwanda and other African countries to build a continent that produces more, trades more, connects better and competes more effectively on the global stage.

“Africa’s future will not be handed to us. We must build it, own it, and defend it together,” he concluded.