he Federal Government and Dangote Industries Limited have called for increased local production and the infusion of patient capital as key strategies for unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential.
This message was a central theme at the 2025 African Private Capital Association (AVCA) Week, held in Lagos. The high-profile event brought together global investors, fund managers, policymakers, and business leaders to explore pathways for accelerating Africa’s economic transformation under the theme, “Bold Moves: Powering 10x in Africa.”
Delivering a keynote address, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, stressed Nigeria’s readiness to turn policy into tangible performance.
“We are proud to host the private capital ecosystem—bringing Africa and the world to Lagos, the commercial heartbeat of the continent—for bold conversations on investment and economic opportunity,” she said. “Nigeria is moving, and we want the world to move with us.”
She outlined an ambitious plan to drive private sector growth, expand capital markets, promote strategic exits, and position Nigeria as a hub for scalable regional businesses.
“We’re offering investors a platform within a $3.4 trillion African economy,” she added.
Aliko Dangote, Founder and CEO of Dangote Industries, echoed the call for inward-looking investment strategies, urging African stakeholders to prioritize the continent’s youth, talent, and industrial capacity.
“If we want to build lasting prosperity in Africa, we must look inward—attract African capital, invest in our youth, and develop systems that scale locally,” Dangote stated.
Industry leaders, including Okey Enelamah, Chairman of African Capital Alliance, and Alison Klein, Managing Director of Akmazo Capital, reflected on the evolution of private equity in Nigeria and the importance of sustained investment in African enterprises.
A key highlight was the emphasis on the growing role of African institutional investors. Dave Uduanu, CEO of Access ARM Pensions, announced plans to deploy $500 million in private capital over five years, targeting sectors like power across the continent.
“We’re working with other pension funds to create pan-African investment vehicles,” Uduanu said. “We’re particularly interested in power. There’s a massive gap in Africa, and we believe you can make money in any currency if the fundamentals are strong.”
Papa Demba Diallo, Managing Director at Africa50, stressed the need for “replicable, bankable, and scalable” investment projects, while Chinua Azubike, CEO of InfraCredit, advocated for investor-led, blended finance models to unlock capital for critical infrastructure in energy, transport, and digital sectors.
As Africa looks to accelerate growth and innovation, stakeholders agreed that the continent’s transformation will depend on patient, strategic capital and a renewed focus on local solutions that serve African markets.
