President Bola Tinubu on Sunday departed Abuja for a three-nation diplomatic and economic tour spanning France, Kenya, and Rwanda, in a move aimed at deepening investment ties and reinforcing Nigeria’s reform narrative on the global stage.
The President left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at midday, a day later than initially scheduled. His spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier indicated a Saturday departure, underscoring last-minute adjustments to the itinerary.The first leg of the trip includes a stop in France before Tinubu proceeds to Nairobi, where he will participate in the Africa-France Summit scheduled for May 11–12. The summit, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, will focus on key themes such as energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, and the restructuring of global financial systems.
The gathering, themed “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” is expected to bring together African leaders and French policymakers to address pressing issues including climate resilience, infrastructure financing, youth employment, and technological advancement.
Tinubu’s attendance signals Nigeria’s intent to position itself as a central player in shaping Africa’s economic future, particularly at a time when global capital flows are increasingly aligned with sustainability and digital innovation.
Following the Nairobi summit, Tinubu will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, for the Africa CEO Forum, scheduled for May 14–15. The event held in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group will convene more than 2,000 business leaders, investors, and policymakers.
This year’s theme, “Scale or Fail,” reflects growing urgency among African economies to accelerate regional integration and unlock cross-border investment opportunities. Discussions are expected to centre on building competitive industries, improving market access, and scaling innovation across the continent.
For Nigeria, the stakes are high. Tinubu is expected to use both platforms to highlight his administration’s economic reforms, including currency liberalisation, subsidy removal, and efforts to improve the investment climate. These policies are designed to restore investor confidence and reposition Africa’s largest economy as a prime destination for capital inflows.
The President is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with global investors and African business leaders, signalling a more proactive economic diplomacy strategy.
Tinubu will be accompanied by senior government officials and is expected to return to Abuja after concluding engagements in Rwanda.
