Adesina urges African leaders to invest in technology, build industries

Former African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina has urged African leaders to put industrialisation and technological innovation at the centre of the continent’s growth.

He spoke on October 8 in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the Iconic Leadership and Excellence Awards of the Broad Pool of Ideas (BPI) Foundation. His keynote was titled “Africa’s Next Leap: Visionary and Ethical Leadership for an Integrated and Prosperous Africa in the Global Economy.”

Adesina said Africa must move beyond exporting raw materials and build globally competitive industries. He named automobiles and electric vehicles, batteries, steel, machinery, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, food processing, software and artificial intelligence. He pointed to Nigeria’s $20 billion Dangote Refinery as an example of the scale of industrial investment possible in Africa.

He also said Africa should build, and not just adopt, the technologies of the future. He urged countries to invest in homegrown technology and advanced computing, give young people future-ready skills, and support entrepreneurs, so the continent can help shape the global AI revolution instead of merely experiencing it.

Africa’s greatest asset is its people, he said, and its young population can become a major source of economic strength if backed by education, skills, technology and chances to create businesses and jobs. He asked governments to invest in people, connect markets, build competitive industries and set up institutions citizens can trust.

Adesina stressed that growth must go with ethical leadership and accountable governance. “The national interest must stand above all other interests,” he said, urging leaders to judge decisions by whether they serve the nation and create lasting value for future generations.

Sources: Guardian Nigeria, Tribune, Vanguard and Sahara Reporters, October 11, 2026.