In a powerful statement of Africa’s determination to drive its economic growth, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially opened the 4th Annual Meeting of the Africa Sovereign Investors Forum (ASIF) in Abuja. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President emphasized the importance of collective action and regional cooperation for Africa’s economic transformation. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leading the continent through targeted reforms and innovative investment platforms.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, is hosting the forum, which is scheduled from June 15–17, 2025. The event, which carries the theme ‘Leveraging African Sovereign Wealth Funds to Mobilise Global Capital for Transformative Development’, has gathered sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and policymakers from 17 African nations. Among the strategic partners supporting the event are the China Investment Corporation and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
In his remarks, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, called for a shift from using sovereign wealth funds for stabilization to using them for strategic investment, urging African nations to prioritize their own industrialization.
“Africa must lead its own industrialization. By mobilizing domestic capital and aligning with global partners, we can move from a future defined by potential to one built on performance,” Mr. Edun said.
The Minister highlighted Nigeria’s progressive initiatives in the financial sector, such as the NSIA-backed Infrastructure Debt Fund, the Green Guarantee Company, and the landmark US-dollar domestic bond issuance. These initiatives, he said, underscore Nigeria’s investment readiness and leadership in driving continental development.
Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq, Managing Director and CEO of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), reinforced this vision. He emphasized the importance of uniting African sovereign wealth funds to create a powerful force for economic growth and resilience across the continent.
“NSIA is honoured to host sovereign wealth funds from across the continent… By uniting our collective resources, African sovereign wealth funds can become a formidable catalyst for transformative growth, economic resilience, and long-term prosperity,” Mr. Umar-Sadiq stated.
The ASIF 2025 summit also witnessed the launch of the ASIF Investment Platform, a flagship initiative designed to facilitate cross-border investments in critical sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, manufacturing, and healthcare.
For Nigeria’s private sector, the summit signifies a new era of de-risked mega-projects, blended finance solutions, and a fertile environment for investor-driven growth throughout Africa.
The ASIF 2025 event is poised to be a milestone in Africa’s pursuit of sustainable economic growth, with Nigeria playing a central role in shaping the future of the continent’s financial landscape.
