Tinubu Meets CAF President Motsepe at Africa Forward Summit in Kenya
President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with Patrice Motsepe on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.
The meeting focused on ways African governments, football bodies and the private sector can work together to promote development in Nigeria and across the continent.
Confederation of African Football confirmed the meeting in a statement shared on its official Facebook page alongside photographs from the event.
“CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and the Nigerian Head of State, His Excellency Bola Tinubu, met today on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi,” CAF stated.
“They discussed several topics, particularly cooperation between the government, football and the private sector in Nigeria and in Africa.”
The talks come at an important time for African football as preparations continue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania under the “Pamoja” initiative.
Motsepe is also expected to speak during the summit as discussions continue on economic growth, innovation and partnerships across Africa. During his stay in Nairobi, the CAF president has met with several government officials and football stakeholders from different countries.
Tinubu arrived in Kenya on Monday for the summit, which marks his second visit to the East African country since taking office in July 2023.
According to the Nigerian Presidency, the Kenya visit is the second part of a three-country diplomatic and economic tour that started in France.
While in France, Tinubu met with international investors and repeated Nigeria’s commitment to economic reforms, fiscal discipline and creating a better environment for investment.
The summit in Nairobi, co-chaired by Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, runs from May 11 to May 12 under the theme, “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.”
Major discussions at the event include energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, climate action and reforms to global financing systems.
Tinubu is also expected to meet African and international business leaders during the summit before travelling to Kigali for the annual Africa CEO Forum scheduled for May 14 to 15.
The Nigerian president is expected to return home after the Rwanda visit ahead of the All Progressives Congress presidential primary fixed for May 23.
