Tinubu Arrives in Kigali for Africa CEO Forum

President Bola Tinubu arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 13, 2026, to participate in the 13th edition of the Africa CEO Forum. The event, which was scheduled to begin on May 14, 2026, serves as a major gathering for policymakers, investors, and private sector leaders across the continent.

Upon his arrival at the Presidential Wing of the Kigali International Airport, President Tinubu was received by a delegation of senior officials. Those welcoming the President included Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu.

The reception party also included several other high-ranking Nigerian officials, including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The President was met by the Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ambassador Ibrahim Zanna, and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare.

Objectives of the Africa CEO Forum

Founded in 2012 by Jeune Afrique Media and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation, the Africa CEO Forum is currently the largest annual gathering of private sector leaders and policymakers on the continent. The forum is designed to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation by emphasizing increased cross-border investment, shared scale, and regional integration.

The 2026 edition of the forum is centered on the theme The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership.

Nigeria’s Economic Agenda

As part of the summit’s proceedings, President Tinubu is expected to address the forum on the topic Holding the Line: Nigeria’s Reform Bet in a Fractured World. During this presentation, the President is slated to highlight the gains achieved through Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and discuss the importance of sustaining these measures in the face of global economic uncertainties.

In addition to his scheduled speech, the President is expected to engage in high-level bilateral meetings with leading global and African business executives. These meetings are intended to strengthen Nigeria’s economic ties across the continent and deepen strategic investment partnerships.

According to an official statement, President Tinubu will utilize the forum to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to regional economic cooperation and African unity. These efforts are aimed at driving sustainable development throughout Africa through strategic partnerships and private sector-led initiatives.