Tinubu tells IFC 'world needs to see Africa as continent, not as one lot of backward nations'
Nigerian president Bola Tinubu asked a delegation of the International Financial Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to see Africa as a continent filled with unexplored investment opportunities.
Tinubu made this statement during a meeting with the delegated members of the corporation in Abuja on Thursday, affirming that “Africa is a destination for growth and prosperity”.
The meeting was led by, Mr. Makhtar Diop, the Managing Director of the development financing agency’s. Tinubu
Speaking with the delegation, President Tinubu urged the “global financiers to consider more strategic investments in agriculture, infrastructure, research, and development on the continent”.
“The IFC and the World Bank need to see Africa differently. I am glad an African is at the helm of affairs at IFC, and as an African, understands that the potential for growth, peace, stability, and prosperity is here, said Tinubu.
“The world has to see us as a continent that can help the rest of the world, and not perceive us as backwards, unstable, and with leadership problems.
“The expectations of the rest of the world on Africa have to change. By looking at Africa as a potential opportunity and not a danger to the rest of the free world, we can stimulate growth and propel inclusiveness.
“You are at the helm now and in a position to change the perception. We are ready to change the narrative and work with you. Africa is open for business, regardless of whatever the perception may be.
“I am an African and proud to be and will maintain the strong position to collaborate with the rest of the world to see Africa as a destination for growth and prosperity,” the President told the IFC delegation led by the Senegal-born Managing Director.
Acknowledging that Nigeria holds the second-largest IFC portfolio in Africa with an active investment portfolio of $2.1 billion as of April 2024, President Tinubu highlighted the importance of some critical infrastructure projects embarked upon by his administration, such as the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway.
“We have made various attempts in the past to create dams, but issues with reticulation and irrigation remain. When we consider the living conditions in rural areas where crops are produced, how much funding is allocated for rural roads to expedite transportation to consumer centres?
“The goal of the coastal road and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway is to address this,” the President said.
The Managing Director highlighted that it is one of the objectives of the corporation to “increase food production through irrigation farming, upgrade transport networks, and bolster regional integration”.
Diop detailed the president on one of his “productive discussions with Nigerian partners to enhance agriculture”, and assured that IFC’s long-term commitment to growing agribusiness in Nigeria” will soon yield beneficial results.
He also said, in one of his comments during the discussion, that “IFC has signed a $23.3 million loan agreement with Johnvents Industries Limited” with the priority focused on “economic development and agricultural transformation, including the development of the cocoa sector”.
“We are supporting small and medium enterprises in the agricultural sector, and they are doing very interesting things. We need to bring in more big players into food production in the country,” the managing director said.
Mr Diop said IFC’s “single largest investment in Africa is in Nigeria” and already “has invested $1.2 billion in the fertilizer industry”.
“We are here to support you. The world has been facing a lot of shocks and difficult situations which have affected many African economies,” said Diop.
