President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart Abuja on Saturday, May 2, for an official visit to France, Kenya and Rwanda as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic partnerships.
The development was disclosed on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in an official statement.
According to the statement, President Tinubu’s first stop will be in France before proceeding to Nairobi, Kenya, where he will participate in the upcoming Africa-France Summit scheduled to begin next week.
The summit, co-chaired by President Emmanuel Macron and President William Ruto, is expected to focus on major issues including energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, climate action, and the restructuring of global financial systems.
President Tinubu’s participation in the summit, slated for May 11 to May 12, is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation with African nations and France.
This year’s summit carries the theme, “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.”
It will serve as a platform for African leaders and their French counterparts to discuss pressing continental issues such as economic transformation, climate resilience, infrastructure expansion, youth development, technological innovation, and peace-building.
Following the conclusion of the Kenyan summit, the Nigerian leader will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, for the annual Africa CEO Forum, which will take place between May 14 and May 15.
The forum, themed “Scale or Fail,” is recognised as one of the continent’s largest gatherings of private sector leaders, policymakers, and investors.
The event will focus on accelerating Africa’s economic transformation through regional integration, shared industrial growth, and expanded cross-border investment.
Organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, the forum is expected to attract over 2,000 top business executives and political leaders from across Africa and beyond.
During both summits, President Tinubu is expected to deliver keynote statements highlighting his administration’s ongoing economic reforms aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading destination for investment and sustainable growth.
He is also scheduled to hold high-level meetings with prominent African and international business leaders to explore strategic investment opportunities for Nigeria.
The President will be accompanied on the trip by several ministers and senior government aides.
He is expected to return to Nigeria after the conclusion of the Rwanda summit.
What You Should Know
President Tinubu’s multi-country trip reflects Nigeria’s increasing focus on economic diplomacy and strategic international partnerships.
The Africa-France Summit and Africa CEO Forum are major global platforms where African leaders engage on investment, infrastructure, climate action, and economic reforms. Tinubu’s attendance offers an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s ongoing reforms and attract foreign direct investment.
The trip also signals efforts by the administration to strengthen Nigeria’s global economic standing while deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with key international partners ahead of broader economic development goals.
