By Duchess Ifeoluwa
…Targets investment, climate, economic reforms
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday depart Abuja on a high-level diplomatic tour covering France, Kenya and Rwanda, in a move aimed at deepening Nigeria’s international partnerships and advancing its economic reform agenda.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the trip will commence with a stop in France before the President proceeds to Nairobi, Kenya, where he is scheduled to participate in the Africa-France Summit billed for May 11 and 12.
The summit, to be co-chaired by Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, is expected to bring together African and French leaders to deliberate on pressing global and continental issues, including energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, climate action, and reforms in the global financing architecture.
With the theme “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” the gathering is positioned as a critical platform for shaping future collaboration between Africa and France, particularly in areas of economic transformation, infrastructure development, youth empowerment and technological advancement.
Presidency sources said President Tinubu’s participation signals Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties, while positioning the country as a key player in emerging global economic and environmental conversations.
Following his engagement in Kenya, the President will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the 2026 edition of the Africa CEO Forum scheduled for May 14 and 15.
The forum, themed “Scale or Fail,” is regarded as one of the continent’s largest private sector gatherings, drawing over 2,000 business leaders, investors and policymakers.
Organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, the forum will focus on strategies to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation through regional integration, industrial scaling and enhanced cross-border investments.
At both events, President Tinubu is expected to outline his administration’s reform initiatives designed to reposition Nigeria as a competitive investment destination, while also engaging top-tier global and African business leaders in high-level bilateral meetings.
The engagements are anticipated to explore opportunities for increased capital inflow, infrastructure financing and private sector collaboration in key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The President will be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials, including ministers and aides, and is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the Rwanda leg of the tour.
