Nigeria will emerge as a model for economic transformation in Africa following the far-reaching reforms implemented by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, with increasing investor confidence and expanding opportunities across key sectors of the nation’s economy.
Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the two-day Africa CEO Forum which began in Kigali, Rwanda.
According to him, although the reforms undertaken by the administration were difficult, they were necessary measures aimed at laying the foundation for long-term economic stability, sustainable growth, and national competitiveness.
Oyedele stressed that Africa’s development conversation has moved beyond rhetoric to practical implementation, with increasing focus on scale, speed, institutional credibility, and sustainable economic transformation.
He noted that Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy by population and market opportunities, has demonstrated that bold reforms are achievable and capable of delivering measurable gains when pursued with political will and strategic commitment.
He described President Tinubu as the country’s “chief marketer,” noting that the President has continued to lead high-level engagements aimed at attracting investment into critical sectors including power, mining, port development, and private enterprise.
Oyedele said discussions at the forum centred on mobilising investments, expanding industrial capacity, and supporting private sector growth as part of broader efforts to reposition Nigeria and Africa for inclusive prosperity.
“You know one very exciting thing about Mr President is that he is never tired of marketing Nigeria, he is the chief marketer for the country, and so we had several discussions mostly focusing on economic opportunities how can we mobilise more investment particularly in the area of power and we also had discussions interesting ones around mining as well as opportunities to even support private sectors more businesses.”
He further stated that Nigeria is now telling a more credible economic story backed by concrete reforms and demonstrable leadership, stressing that President Tinubu’s track record and reform agenda have strengthened investor confidence in the country.
The minister also highlighted President Tinubu’s bilateral engagement with the President of Guinea, describing it as a productive discussion focused on regional cooperation, development partnerships, and economic integration.
According to him, President Tinubu commended Guinea’s continued commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), despite pressures to withdraw from the regional bloc, describing the move as a demonstration of belief in regional unity and collective progress.
Oyedele noted that both leaders explored opportunities for collaboration in areas such as iron ore development and broader economic partnerships, stressing that African countries stand to achieve more through cooperation and shared development initiatives.
He emphasised the need for African nations to work together in addressing development financing challenges, industrialisation, value addition, poverty reduction, and growth in labour-intensive sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and services.
The minister said leaders participating at the Africa CEO Forum acknowledged that the time for mere declarations has passed, stressing that Africa must now focus on implementation, execution, and building strong institutions capable of driving sustainable growth across the continent.
He stressed that it was a significant moment for Nigeria and Africa, noting that the current generation of leaders has a unique opportunity to shape a stronger and more prosperous future for the continent.
Deji Elumoye
