Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has voiced strong optimism about Africa’s capability for self-development, stating that the continent has all the resources needed and that the time to act is now. This declaration was made during his meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Monday, January 13, 2025, during the Sustainability Week conference.
Both leaders are attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which commenced on January 12 and will continue until January 18. This summit serves as a platform for discussing sustainable development strategies, with the theme “The Nexus of Next: Supercharging Sustainable Progress.” President Tinubu is set to use this opportunity to showcase his administration‘s initiatives in energy, transportation, public health, and economic development.
In a post on his official X account,
@officialABAT
, President Tinubu shared insights from his discussion with President Kagame, emphasizing the urgent need for Africa to leverage its own resources, people, and capabilities. He wrote, “Africa has what it takes to develop itself. We have the resources, the people, and the capacity. We must look inward to improve intra-African trade and collaboration to benefit the African people and the continent. The time for Africa is now.”
This meeting follows an invitation extended by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to President Tinubu for the sustainability summit. Tinubu arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, and his arrival was acknowledged by his Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who posted on X, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he is received by Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE.”
The event aims to gather global leaders to foster discussions and collaborations that will advance sustainable development and socio-economic progress across the world, with a particular focus on Africa’s role and potential in this global agenda. President Tinubu’s participation and statements at the summit reflect Nigeria‘s commitment to not only its own development but also to the broader African agenda of self-sufficiency and mutual progress.
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