The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on African leaders to wean the continent off its long-standing dependence on foreign aid and instead pursue home-grown solutions driven by innovation, accountability, and visionary leadership.
Wike made the call on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Innovate Africa Conference held at the ECOWAS Conference Hall in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, "Reimagining Africa’s Leadership and Investment," the Minister urged leaders to chart a new course towards economic sovereignty and self-sustaining development.
"Africa’s transformation will not come from donor-driven interventions but from indigenous innovation, bold leadership, and productive investment in infrastructure, youth, and human capital.
"Foreign aid, once embraced as a bridge to development, has too often become a crutch that weakens resolve and distorts priorities. Development cannot be donated; it must be built," he said.
The former Rivers State governor stated that Africa’s development narrative must shift from dependency to dignity, driven by local talent and collective effort.
"Africa’s future will not be given to us. We must build it and we must build it now," he declared.
Wike, who was honoured with the Innovate Africa Leadership Award 2025 at the event, dedicated the recognition to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people.
He described the award as a testament to the administration’s commitment to purposeful governance and infrastructural renewal in the FCT.
Commending the conference organisers for recognising leadership anchored on vision and accountability, Wike said the infrastructural strides in Abuja demonstrate "what is possible when leadership dares to dream and deliver."
He also identified poor leadership as the root cause of Africa’s persistent underdevelopment, despite its vast natural wealth.
"Leadership is the fulcrum upon which the destinies of nations turn. When leadership is visionary, accountable, and courageous, even the most daunting obstacles become opportunities," he said.
The Minister criticised what he termed "the plague of poor and mediocre leadership" that has long constrained Africa’s progress, urging a new generation of leaders to emerge, leaders defined by moral integrity, empathy, and resilience.
"True leadership is not about position or power, but about inspiring, serving, and journeying with those you lead," he said.
Wike also commended President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and efforts to decentralise governance, describing them as "bold and difficult decisions" aimed at securing long-term prosperity.
He said the reforms were already yielding signs of fiscal stability and renewed confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
Calling for a shift from extractive to productive and inclusive investment, Wike stressed that Africa’s most valuable asset lies in its people.
"Our greatest resource is not oil, minerals, or fertile soil, it is our people. When leadership builds an enabling environment with stable power, strong institutions, and transparent policies, investment follows," he said.
Citing the potential of Africa’s youthful population, he urged governments to invest in education, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship to harness what he called the continent’s "demographic goldmine."
He further lauded the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a landmark step towards economic self-reliance, describing it as "the modern reawakening of the Lagos Plan of Action" and "a cornerstone of Africa’s second liberation– the liberation of its economy."
Wike concluded by reassuing his belief that Africa’s prosperity must be built by Africans, for Africans. "The future of global prosperity will be written here on African soil, by African hands, and for the glory of Africa and all humanity," he said.
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