Olusegun Obasanjo Issues Calls for African Unity and Self-Reliance at AAM2025

Former Nigerian President and Chairperson of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) Advisory Council, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, delivered a powerful and reflective message on Africa’s future during a keynote conversation at the 2025 African Agenda Meeting (#AAM2025). The session, moderated by CNBC Africa’s Fifi Peters, focused on the continent’s economic trajectory amid global shifts and underscored the importance of unity, knowledge, and leadership in Africa’s transformation journey.

Speaking with clarity and conviction, Obasanjo emphasized the critical need for self-reliance, regional integration, and a shared continental vision. He stated that Africa must harness its own strengths, protect its interests, and remain united in purpose if it is to thrive in an increasingly competitive and uncertain global environment. Drawing on examples of progress from across the continent, including Ethiopia’s significant achievements in wheat production and the growing cross-border trade between Nigeria and Uganda, Obasanjo illustrated the power of local solutions led by knowledgeable and courageous leadership.

In a stirring remark that captured the essence of his message, he said, “Let us learn from ourselves and among ourselves. And let us then get the lions to move, and when the lions move, the cubs will follow.” He called on African leaders and institutions to rise above division and complacency, reminding the audience that the foundation of sustainable development lies in education, policy, and political will. “You cannot talk of the economy without touching on politics, because politics is the master of economics. The beginning is knowledge. If we have the knowledge, then we will be able to get the right policy… at the national, sub-regional, and continental levels,” he added.

Obasanjo’s message is a forward-looking ambition. He challenged African nations to build something greater than what existed before, an Africa defined by its own ideas, solutions, and resolve. His remarks served as a rallying cry for a continent ready to lead with unity, purpose, and determination.