Nairobi, Kenya – President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport early Monday, arriving in the capital to take part in the Africa‑France Summit, which is co‑hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron. The gathering, also billed as the Africa Forward Summit, convenes African leaders, investors and development partners to discuss investment, sustainable development and strategic continental cooperation.
The presidential aircraft landed at approximately 12:18 a.m. local time, according to a statement released by the Nigerian Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu was greeted by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Isaac Parashina, senior Kenyan officials and members of Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Nairobi.
Tinubu’s delegation included a senior cabinet team: Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani. Also accompanying the president were Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, Omotenioye Majekodunmi and Nigeria’s Ambassador to France Amb. Ayodele Oke, together with senior officials handling climate, diplomacy and investment promotion.
The summit’s agenda centres on economic transformation, digital innovation, trade expansion, infrastructure development, climate resilience and other practical strategies aimed at fostering collective prosperity across Africa. Tinubu’s participation signals Nigeria’s commitment to African unity, regional economic cooperation and the pursuit of strategic partnerships that can accelerate sustainable development and infrastructure growth on the continent.
During the two‑day event, the Nigerian president is expected to engage in both bilateral and multilateral meetings designed to deepen diplomatic and economic ties with fellow African nations and to reinforce Nigeria’s leadership role in continental affairs. The engagements will complement the Renewed Hope Agenda, the administration’s framework for advancing African‑driven solutions to shared challenges through diplomacy, investment and partnership.
The Africa‑France Summit brings together heads of state, policymakers, private‑sector leaders and development agencies. By convening under the joint stewardship of Kenya and France, the forum aims to mobilise capital, technology and expertise needed to address Africa’s development gaps while enhancing the continent’s global competitiveness.
Tinubu’s presence in Nairobi underscores the importance Nigeria places on collaborative continental initiatives and highlights the country’s readiness to contribute to, and benefit from, the emerging landscape of African‑focused investment and innovation. The outcomes of the summit are expected to shape policy directions for the coming years, influencing trade, infrastructure projects and climate‑adaptation programmes across the region.
