President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to join world leaders, policymakers and global investors at the Africa CEO Forum 2026 scheduled to hold in Kigali, Rwanda, on 14–15 May 2026.

The forum, which will convene more than 2,000 CEOs, investors, heads of state and public decision-makers from over 75 countries, will focus on strengthening Africa’s economic scale and integration under the theme: “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership.”

Organisers said the 2026 edition will call for deeper collaboration between governments and the private sector, stressing that Africa must “commit capital, share risk and build transnational African ownership” to secure long-term prosperity. The central message of the forum is: “scale or fail.”

President Tinubu is expected among the high-profile public figures attending, alongside Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

A strong Nigerian private sector delegation will also participate, including business leaders such as Aliko Dangote, Wale Tinubu, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Adesuwa Ladoja, Rachel More-Oshodi, Zouera Youssoufou, Karim Noujaim, Dany Abboud, Ayo Otuyalo, and Chukwuerika Achum.

Organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the forum comes at a time of global economic realignment, with shifting capital flows and increasing competition among emerging economies.

The statement noted that Africa’s growth trajectory, improved sovereign ratings, and stronger financial institutions demonstrate resilience, but stressed that achieving competitiveness will require more than regulatory reform.

“Scale is no longer optional. It is the first line of defence,” the organisers said, adding that African economies must adopt a new mindset anchored in shared ownership to build globally competitive enterprises.

According to the organisers, the forum will focus on three key strategic areas:

Shared equity, aimed at unlocking cross-border investment and building multinational African companies through pooled institutional capital.

Shared infrastructure, focused on developing regional projects that integrate value chains and strengthen connectivity across African markets.

Shared frameworks, which seek to harmonise regulations and standards to improve investor confidence and enable the free movement of capital, goods and services.

Speaking ahead of the forum, Amir Ben Yahmed, President of the Africa CEO Forum, said Africa must rethink its economic model to compete globally.

“If Africa wants to compete in a world defined by scale, it must move beyond economic patriotism and embrace a new model: African capital investing together,” he said. “Shared ownership, cross-border partnerships and continental ambition will define the economic future of Africa and the next generation of African champions.”

Also speaking, Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of IFC, said Africa already has the resources needed to grow but must deploy them more effectively.

“Africa has the capital and the opportunity to grow and create quality jobs. What matters now is putting that capital to work at scale,” he said. “That means building trust, sharing risk, and investing across borders. The Africa CEO Forum brings leaders together to connect policy and private investment, and to help shape Africa’s next phase of growth.”

The forum is expected to build on momentum from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with participants set to explore concrete commitments to deepen economic integration.

About the Africa CEO Forum, organisers said it remains the continent’s leading platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors, bringing together top executives, policymakers and investors to shape Africa’s economic future.

Founded in 2012 by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-organised with IFC, the forum aims to deliver practical solutions to accelerate private sector development across Africa. (Arise News)

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