From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria is set to host the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja from 23 to 27 June 2025, reinforcing its position as a leader in African trade and economic development.
The event, themed ‘Building the Future on Decades of Resilience’, will attract over 5,000 delegates from across the globe, including policymakers, investors, and financial experts.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, where she commended the Minister of Finance and his team for their efforts in stabilising the economy.
In a statement issued by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady expressed readiness to host the spouses of African leaders attending the meeting, highlighting it as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s best.
She noted that this would be another chance to showcase the best of Nigeria.
‘This is one of the ways that God has been blessing us in this administration with the quality of the people running the affairs of the country.
‘Therefore, I thank the Minister for approaching us with the forthcoming AGM meeting of Afreximbank. Meanwhile, mine is very easy; being the wife of Mr President, I am supposed to be the Chief Hostess and to ensure that we take care of things,’ she said.
The meetings will focus on enhancing trade financing for African businesses, strengthening cross-border trade and payment systems, and expanding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Afreximbank President, Professor Benedict Oramah, commended Nigeria’s leadership in promoting trade and economic development, noting that the country’s hosting of the event would further reinforce its influence in shaping Africa’s financial landscape.
Nigeria has been a significant beneficiary of Afreximbank’s trade and development finance, receiving a cumulative disbursement of about $52 billion.
The upcoming event is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s position as a global investment destination while fostering stronger trade across Africa.
As part of the hosting activities, the First Lady plans a philanthropic visit to the Nanaberry Orphanage in Nasarawa State, benefiting over 200 children.
The Minister emphasised Nigeria’s strong partnership with Afreximbank and its commitment to fostering trade and economic growth. He noted, ‘Nigeria is honoured to host the 2025 Afreximbank Annual Meetings, which will serve as a critical platform to drive discussions on trade financing, economic growth, and investment opportunities across Africa.’
He pointed out that the Federal Government and Afreximbank Annual General Meeting is one of the most anticipated gatherings on the African continent, featuring high-level policy discussions, presentations, and side events on issues pertinent to the socio-economic development of Africa, as well as business networking sessions that drive integration through trade and investments.
‘What we refer to was the competitiveness of the Nigerian economy. Bold and courageous under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, over the last 20 months, Afreximbank has been reformed, it has been changed, and it has been improved.
‘We have a situation now where we have inflation stabilising, food prices crashing down, petroleum prices coming down, amongst other improvements in the economy.
‘While we still have relatively high inflation, there is a focus on helping people with their cost of living, and those reductions in major prices that affect the land are particularly encouraging and heartwarming for Mr President,’ he said.
Edun, who specifically talked about the reduction in inflation, added that this would be stabilised to a minimal level as time goes on with policies that would favour indigenous manufacturers to compete globally being put in place.
‘With regard to the comment on Chatham House about the competitiveness of the Nigerian economy, it is there when you see the foreign exchange reforms and improvement. One of the things that does is that it makes Nigeria grow.
‘The Nigerian manufactured exports will be more competitive – whether pharmaceuticals, health products, beauty products, textiles, or agriculture – it makes them competitive with neighbours, especially West Africa, and the whole of Africa.
‘Indeed, we have Nigerian manufacturing exports competitive now.’