Dare Babalola
President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday for an official visit to France, Kenya and Rwanda, where he is expected to participate in major international summits and hold high-level engagements with business and political leaders.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s first stop will be France before proceeding to Nairobi, Kenya, for the Africa-France Summit scheduled for May 11 to May 12.
The summit, to be co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, will focus on key issues including energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, climate action and reforms to the global financing architecture.
The statement said Tinubu’s participation would reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to deepening strategic partnerships with African countries and France.
It added that the summit, themed “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” would provide a platform for African leaders and their French counterparts to discuss economic transformation, infrastructure development, climate resilience, youth empowerment, technological innovation and peace-building efforts.
After the Kenya summit, Tinubu is expected to travel to Kigali, Rwanda, for the Africa CEO Forum scheduled for May 14 to May 15.
The forum, themed “Scale or Fail,” is regarded as one of Africa’s largest gatherings of private sector leaders, investors and policymakers.
Organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the event is expected to attract over 2,000 executives and national leaders to discuss strategies for promoting regional integration, cross-border investment and competitive industries across the continent.
The Presidency said Tinubu would use both summits to showcase his administration’s economic reforms aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading destination for investment and growth.
He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with top African and global business leaders during the trip.
The President will be accompanied by some ministers and senior aides and is expected to return to Nigeria after the Rwanda summit.
