President Bola Tinubu arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday morning to participate in the Africa-France summit. The summit, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, aims to strengthen bilateral ties and address critical global transitions such as energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, global financing architecture restructuring, and climate action.

The summit, held under the theme “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” provides a platform for leaders to discuss infrastructure development, youth empowerment, technological advancement, and peace-building initiatives. Nigeria's participation underscores its commitment to deepening strategic partnerships with African nations and France.

Beyond the official agenda, President Tinubu is reportedly backing Aliko Dangote's initiative to establish a $17 billion refinery in Mombasa, Kenya. This move signifies Dangote's expansion into the East African oil and gas market with a refinery designed to process 650,000 barrels per day. The project was initially considered for Tanzania before the decision to locate it in Mombasa.

Following the summit in Nairobi, President Tinubu is scheduled to travel to Kigali, Rwanda, for the annual Africa CEO Forum on May 14 and 15. This forum, themed “Scale or Fail,” is anticipated to be the largest gathering of African private sector leaders, investors, and policymakers, bringing together over 2,000 executives to discuss regional integration and cross-border investment.

At the Africa CEO Forum, President Tinubu is expected to highlight his administration's reforms aimed at positioning Nigeria as a premier destination for global investment. He will also engage in high-level meetings with leading business figures before returning to Nigeria.