At the 2025 China-Africa CEO Dialogue, the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, made a powerful appeal for bold and collaborative action between China and Africa, urging leaders in business and policy circles to move beyond mere words and commit to concrete, sustainable partnerships. Speaking under the theme “Sustainable Development, Green Energy Cooperation, and Financial Innovation in Africa,” Mr. Tegbe emphasized that Africa stands at a critical crossroads. Despite its vast wealth in natural resources, the continent continues to grapple with persistent development challenges—a paradox that he insists must be resolved through strategic cooperation and long-term investments rather than empty slogans.
Mr. Tegbe praised China’s extraordinary development trajectory, pointing to its success in eradicating poverty, building robust infrastructure, and advancing in manufacturing and technology. Drawing from his recent visits to Chinese industrial centers and tech hubs, he expressed confidence in Africa’s ability to emulate this model with China as a reliable and strategic partner. A major highlight of his address was Africa’s immense potential in green energy, noting that the continent holds over 60% of the world’s richest solar resources along with significant hydro, wind, and geothermal energy reserves. He stressed that with adequate investment, Africa is uniquely positioned to lead the global energy transition.
Furthermore, Mr. Tegbe underscored the rapid growth of financial innovation across Africa. He pointed to transformative developments such as digital payments, mobile banking, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, which are revolutionizing financial inclusion on the continent. With a youthful and tech-savvy population, Africa is on track to become a global fintech powerhouse, especially when supported by Chinese capital and technology. Against the backdrop of shifting global geopolitics and unpredictable trade policies, Mr. Tegbe commended China for its consistent and dependable partnership, contrasting it with the often volatile policy approaches of Western countries that have frequently disadvantaged emerging markets. He stressed firmly that Africa is not a continent to be seen through the lens of charity but rather as one of vast opportunity.
In closing, Mr. Tegbe called on Chinese investors and industry leaders to deepen their collaboration with Africa in co-creating sustainable development projects. From solar energy parks across the Sahel region to green industrial zones along Africa’s coastal corridors, he highlighted Nigeria’s commitment, via the NCSP, to fostering an enabling environment that attracts and supports such investments. His remarks reinforced the urgency and promise of a new chapter in China-Africa relations centered on shared growth, innovation, and sustainability.
