By Peace Udugba
President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday for official visits to France, Kenya, and Rwanda, where he is scheduled to participate in major international summits and hold high-level engagements with political and business leaders.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s first stop will be France before proceeding to Nairobi, Kenya, for the Africa-France Summit slated for May 11 to May 12.
The summit, to be co-chaired by Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, will focus on critical issues such as energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, climate action, and reforms to the global financing architecture.
The Presidency said Tinubu’s participation underscores Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with African countries and France.
The summit, themed “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” is expected to provide a platform for discussions on economic transformation, infrastructure development, climate resilience, youth empowerment, technological innovation, and peace-building efforts.
Following the Kenya engagement, the President will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, to attend 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, the event is expected to attract over 2,000 executives and national leaders to deliberate on strategies for advancing regional integration, cross-border investment, and competitive industries across the continent.
The Presidency added that Tinubu would use the platforms provided by the summits to showcase his administration’s economic reforms aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading investment destination.
He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with top African and global business leaders during the trip.
The President will be accompanied by senior government officials and aides and is expected to return to Nigeria after concluding his engagements in Rwanda.
