Tinubu, Dangote, Pate & More Set For Africa CEO Forum 2026

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is slated to attend the Africa CEO Forum 2026, set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 14 to 15. The high-profile event will convene more than 2,000 chief executives, investors, heads of state, and policymakers from over 75 countries to discuss strategies for boosting Africa’s economic integration and global competitiveness.

According to organisers, the 2026 edition of the forum will carry the theme, “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” highlighting the need for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to achieve sustainable growth. They emphasised that Africa must pool capital, share risk, and foster transnational ownership to secure long-term prosperity, stressing the urgency encapsulated in the forum’s motto: “scale or fail.”

President Tinubu is expected to join other prominent figures, including Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. The Nigerian private sector will also have a strong representation, featuring 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 amid global economic realignments, marked by shifting capital flows and intensified competition among emerging economies. Discussions will focus on three strategic priorities: shared equity to enable cross-border investments and multinational African companies; shared infrastructure to strengthen regional connectivity and integrate value chains; and shared frameworks to harmonise regulations and improve investor confidence.

Amir Ben Yahmed, President of the Africa CEO Forum, stressed that African economies must rethink their development models to compete in a global economy defined by scale. “Shared ownership, cross-border partnerships, and continental ambition will define Africa’s economic future and the next generation of African champions,” he said.

Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the IFC, noted that Africa possesses the resources required for economic growth 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, highlighting the importance of cross-border investment, risk-sharing, and trust-building.

The forum is also expected to build on the momentum of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with participants exploring concrete commitments to deepen economic integration across the continent.