{"id":27976,"date":"2025-08-01T16:46:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/?p=27976"},"modified":"2025-08-01T16:46:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:46:12","slug":"tony-elumelus-keynote-address-at-the-2025-african-caucus-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/interviews-speeches\/tony-elumelus-keynote-address-at-the-2025-african-caucus-meeting","title":{"rendered":"Discours de Tony Elumelu lors de la r\u00e9union du Caucus africain 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<strong>Introduction<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Your Excellencies, Ministers, Central Bank Governors, esteemed representatives of the IMF &amp; World Bank, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>It is truly an honour to be here with you today. This gathering could not be timelier, as we work together to amplify Africa&#8217;s voice and shape a development path that reflects our unique needs and aspirations.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>We live in a highly volatile, complex world. It is a world where the rules-based order has been challenged, where we need to reaffirm our commitment to the idea of a global community.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>But as an African, I must be frank. This global community has not always served Africa interests, ensured that Africa\u2019s voice is heard or delivered for Africa.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>And Africa\u2019s voice not only needs to be heard, but has to be heard.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Africa has solutions to so many of the world\u2019s problems. Our young people are the answer to the world\u2019s demographic crisis, our minerals power the extraordinary technological changes we are experiencing, our fields can feed the world.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>But these African solutions, this African opportunity, must be on African terms, benefit African people, catalyse true value creation on the African continent. And it must be based on true partnerships, partnerships of equality and mutual respect.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>We must also be realistic. African governments must do better. If we are to deliver that opportunity to our next generation \u2013 and if we are to be truly heard in the community of nations, Africa needs to step up.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>This year&#8217;s theme &#8211; &#8216;Resilient Infrastructure, Human Capital, and Green Assets&#8217; \u2013 reflects what must be our shared priorities if Africa is to thrive.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>It captures the essence of what we must prioritise if Africa is to truly rise.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<strong>Africa\u2019s Infrastructure Gap<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Let me begin with infrastructure. Across our continent, we face a deep and persistent infrastructure gap. From roads to ports, power to internet connectivity \u2013 we lag behind. We cannot achieve prosperity without the foundations of modern development.\u00a0 Without addressing these gaps, we cannot unlock the growth and prosperity our people deserve.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>To bridge this divide, we must do three things:<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Strengthen our fiscal capacity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Drive efficiency and<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Unlock innovative financing \u2013 especially by inviting and enabling private sector to co-lead infrastructure development.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<strong>Powering Africa\u2019s Future<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Energy access remains the biggest enabler \u2014 or barrier \u2014 to our progress.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Up to 70% of our people lack electricity. My home country, Nigeria, generates less than 7,000 MW for over 200 million people.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>If we are to industrialize, create jobs, and participate meaningfully in the global AI revolution, we must invest aggressively in energy \u2014 from renewables to cleaner gas-based solutions.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Imagine what Nigeria\u2019s economy could become with 100,000 megawatts of reliable, affordable energy. That is the scale of transformation we need. And the story is not different across Africa.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of the Private Sector<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Through our investments in Transcorp and Heirs Energies, we are working to solve this challenge \u2013 generating power, exporting it through the West African Power Pool, and using gas from our oil operations to power our plants. This is Africapitalism in action: private capital solving public challenges.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Africapitalism is the belief that the African private sector must take the lead in driving economic development. It is about long-term investments in key sectors that create both economic returns and social impact.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>But success requires collaboration.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>To succeed, we need strong partnerships. Governments must create the right environment. Private sector must bring capital and innovation. And our development partners must support Africa&#8217;s realities \u2013 <strong><u>including recognising gas as a viable transition fuel on our path to clean energy<\/u><\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<strong>Youth: Africa\u2019s Greatest Resource<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>No resource is more valuable than our people \u2013 especially our youth. Africa is the youngest continent on earth, with over 60% of our population under 35. This presents both our greatest asset or our greatest risk.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>If empowered, our youth can transform Africa. If neglected, they can become a source of instability.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>At the Tony Elumelu Foundation:<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>We have empowered over 24,000 young entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Each with a non-refundable seed capital of USD5,000.00.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Trained 1.5m youth.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Catalysed 1.2m jobs.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>These entrepreneurs are creating jobs, building businesses, and changing lives.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<strong>Call to Action<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Let me leave you with three massages:<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Africa\u2019s development is our responsibility.\u00a0 No one else will do it for us.\u00a0 Africa&#8217;s future is in our hands. No one will build this continent for us. We must lead.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Power is everything. No industrial revolution can happen without electricity. We must prioritise energy. Without power, there can be no progress.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>We must invest in our youth. They are not just our future &#8211; they are our present.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Together, by working across public and private sectors, and in partnership with institutions like the IMF and World Bank, we can build an Africa that is resilient, inclusive, and full of opportunity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>I commend the growing focus of global institutions on Africa. I sit on the IMF Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, and I&#8217;m pleased with our emphasis on job creation as a path to lasting growth. I also applaud Ajay Banga&#8217;s &#8216;Mission 300&#8217; initiative at the World Bank \u2013 an ambitious goal to connect 300 million Africans to power.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Africa is ready. Let&#8217;s seize this moment &#8211; and build the prosperous, empowered continent our people deserve.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n \t<li>Merci.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Le d\u00e9ficit d'infrastructures de l'Afrique Alimenter l'avenir de l'Afrique Le r\u00f4le du secteur priv\u00e9 La jeunesse, la plus grande ressource de l'Afrique Appel \u00e0 l'action La plus grande ressource de l'Afrique Appel \u00e0 l'action<\/p>","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":27977,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews-speeches"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27976"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27978,"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27976\/revisions\/27978"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tonyelumelufoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}