Tinubu Departs for France, Kenya and Rwanda for Africa-France Summit and CEO Forum

President Bola Tinubu departed Abuja on Saturday for a three-nation trip that will take him to France, Kenya, and Rwanda over the coming two weeks — one of his most ambitious international schedules since taking office.

The itinerary, confirmed in an official State House press release, begins in France before moving to Nairobi for the Africa-France Summit from May 11 to 12, and wrapping up in Kigali for the Africa CEO Forum from May 14 to 15.

Africa-France Summit in Nairobi

Co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, the Africa-France Summit carries the theme “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.” It will bring African leaders and their French counterparts together to deliberate on energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, restructuring of global financing architecture, and climate action.

Tinubu’s attendance signals Nigeria’s intent to be at the centre of the renegotiation of Africa’s financial and energy relationships with Europe — a conversation that has sharpened since the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted global energy markets and multilateral lending institutions came under pressure to reform.

Africa CEO Forum in Kigali

The Rwanda leg is the Africa CEO Forum, the continent’s largest annual gathering of private sector leaders, investors, and policymakers. This year’s theme is “Scale or Fail” — a blunt framing for the challenge facing African businesses trying to grow beyond fragmented, small markets.

Held in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, the forum draws over 2,000 top executives and national leaders. Aliko Dangote and Health Minister Muhammad Pate are also attending from Nigeria. Tinubu will deliver statements on Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and hold bilateral meetings with global investors.

He is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the Rwanda summit on May 15.

Sources: State House Nigeria, Punch, The Will