The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has called for a complete reimagining of Africa’s leadership and investment philosophy, urging African nations to rise beyond the era of dependency on foreign aid and embrace visionary, self-reliant governance anchored on accountability, infrastructure, and innovation.
Wike made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Innovate Africa Conference, held at the ECOWAS Conference Hall, Abuja, on Thursday. The event, organized by the Innovate Africa Corporation, brought together African leaders, policymakers, industrialists, investors, and global partners to explore pathways toward Africa’s transformation in the 21st century.
Expressing gratitude to the organizers for the Innovate Africa Leadership Award 2025, conferred on him during the conference, Wike dedicated the honour to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria, describing it as recognition of their collective commitment to infrastructural renewal and purposeful leadership in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Your invitation stands as both a soothing balm and a powerful vindication — an affirmation that purposeful governance anchored on vision and accountability still commands genuine recognition,” he stated.
Reflecting on the continent’s challenges, Wike said Africa stands “at a historic crossroads,” blessed with abundant natural and human resources yet burdened by weak institutions, infrastructural decay, and governance failures.
“This is the paradox of our age: how can a continent so richly blessed remain so constrained?” he asked, noting that leadership remains “the fulcrum upon which the destinies of nations turn.”
He stressed that the future of Africa depends on leaders who are visionary, courageous, and accountable, adding that the continent must move beyond transactional leadership driven by personal gain to transformational leadership rooted in service and moral integrity.
“The leadership that Africa deserves in the 21st century is one that is about caring rather than controlling. A true leader must see himself as a servant, humbled by the weight of responsibility for the welfare of the people,” he emphasized.
Highlighting examples of transformational leadership, Wike praised President Tinubu for his courage in removing fuel subsidy and initiating reforms aimed at decentralizing governance and strengthening security.
“While previous administrations acknowledged the dangers of fuel subsidy, none dared to act. Tinubu did, understanding the cost but believing in the long-term gain,” he said, adding that the reforms are beginning to yield results in revenue allocation and fiscal stability.
Wike identified investment as the key driver of Africa’s transformation, warning that the continent must stop relying on aid and begin building from within.
“Development cannot be donated; it must be built. Africa must now declare that it will no longer be defined by grants and conditionalities but by ideas, innovation, and indigenous strength,” he said.
He called for investments that are productive, inclusive, and transformative, with special focus on youth and women, whom he described as “the beating heart of Africa’s future.”
Referencing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wike described it as a “modern reawakening” of the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980, emphasizing that regional integration and trade among African nations are crucial for the continent’s economic independence.
“The AfCFTA is not just a trade agreement; it is a declaration of intent that Africa will no longer accept to be a supplier of raw materials and a dumping ground for finished goods,” he stated.
Concluding his address, Wike urged African leaders and citizens to act decisively and collaboratively toward the continent’s transformation.
“Africa’s future will not be given to us; we must build it. The question before us is not whether Africa can rise, but whether we possess the courage to lead, the wisdom to invest, and the will to unite,” he said.
He called on participants to leave the conference “not with lofty words but with firm commitments to lead differently, invest boldly, and believe radically in Africa’s limitless potential.”
The two-day Innovate Africa Conference 2025 continues with panel discussions on leadership innovation, digital transformation, and investment frameworks for inclusive growth across the continent.
