The 2025 Africa Sovereign Investors Forum (ASIF) concluded in Abuja with a powerful commitment to reshape the continent’s economic future by unlocking the full potential of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) for long-term development.
Hosted by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), the forum brought together political leaders, investment executives, and private sector partners from across the continent. Themed “Leveraging African Sovereign Wealth Funds to Mobilise Global Capital for Transformative Development in Africa”, the summit served as a launchpad for a continent-wide mobilisation of capital.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, opened the two-day forum with a rallying call:
“The time has come for African nations to harness our collective sovereign wealth as engines for pan-African prosperity.”
One of the headline outcomes was the unveiling of the ASIF Investment Platform, a pan-African initiative aimed at raising $50 billion in blended finance by 2030. The fund will target critical sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, and renewable energy.
Mr Aminu Umar-Sadiq, Managing Director and CEO of the NSIA, announced that sovereign funds across Africa will dedicate 30% of their portfolios to climate-resilient projects by 2030. He added that this commitment builds on Nigeria’s own $1 billion climate guarantee initiative.
“By aligning our sovereign wealth with long-term development goals, we’re not just safeguarding assets – we’re building a sustainable future for Africa,” Umar-Sadiq said.
A fireside discussion featuring Mr Fola Aiyesimoju of UAC Nigeria and Mr Farouk Gumel of TGI Group underlined the urgency of connecting climate investment with everyday realities. Gumel reflected:
“Farmers aren’t asking about COP29. They want to know if it rained enough to plant.”
He emphasised the need for sovereign funds to invest in foundational data infrastructure, particularly in agriculture, where timelines and logistics remain complex and investment often stalls due to lack of reliable data.
The forum also expanded its membership, welcoming Ghana’s Petroleum Fund and Zimbabwe’s Mutapa Investment Fund, bringing total participation to 17 countries. In closing, ASIF launched three new working groups to advance strategic action in the areas of data systems, agricultural development, and climate finance.
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