Kigali is once again preparing to host one of Africa’s most influential business gatherings, as the Africa CEO Forum returns to Rwanda on May 14 and 15.
Bringing together more than 2,000 business leaders, investors and policymakers, this year’s forum is expected to focus sharply on how African economies can grow faster, and more collaboratively, under the theme “Scale or Fail.” The message is clear: without bigger markets, stronger regional ties and increased cross-border investment, growth across the continent could stall.
Held in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the forum has become a key platform for shaping Africa’s private sector agenda. For Rwanda, hosting the event again reinforces its position as a regional hub for business and investment dialogue (MICE).
Discussions in Kigali are likely to centre on practical ways to unlock growth, ranging from industrialisation and digital expansion to financing and intra-African trade. The emphasis will be on scaling African businesses beyond national borders and building industries that can compete globally.
Among the expected participants is Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is due to attend following a series of international engagements. His visit comes after stops in Europe and East Africa, including participation in a major Africa-France summit in Nairobi earlier in the week.
In Kigali, President Tinubu is expected to engage with business leaders and investors, presenting Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and efforts to attract investment. He is also likely to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the forum.
While the spotlight will be on continental growth, Rwanda’s role as host remains central. The country has increasingly positioned itself as a meeting point for high-level economic discussions, leveraging such platforms to strengthen its profile as an investment destination and a gateway to regional markets.
As conversations unfold over the two-day forum, attention will be on whether Africa’s leaders, both public and private, can move beyond dialogue and deliver the scale needed to drive lasting economic transformation.
