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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has urged local and international investors to take advantage of the abundant opportunities in the nation’s capital to drive sustainable growth and development.

Wike spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the second Abuja Business and Investment Expo (ABIEXPO 2025) at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

The event was organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its investment arm, the Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL).

Represented by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to making Abuja not just the political capital of Nigeria but a model of sustainable economic growth in Africa.

Wike said: “As Abuja symbolises Nigeria’s aspirations, our mission, supported by Mr. President, is to make it a safe, investment-friendly city that empowers all citizens.”

The minister noted that the theme of the theme: Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potentials in Emerging Markets, reflected the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which focuses on inclusive development, infrastructure expansion, and job creation.

He said the administration was prioritising infrastructural development to link satellite towns, area councils, and rural communities to the city centre.

Wike noted that such projects are essential for industrialisation and economic diversification.

Wike hailed the AICL for organising what he called a “strategic and forward-looking platform” that brings together investors, innovators, and development partners to explore opportunities for shared prosperity.

“The FCT Administration remains steadfast in building a sustainable, flourishing capital city and enhancing Nigeria’s position on the continental and global stage,” he added.

“That your organization found me worthy of this role, in recognition of our commitment to infrastructural renewal and transformative leadership, is deeply reassuring and truly appreciated.
In an age when leadership is too often viewed through partisan lenses, your invitation stands as both a soothing balm and a powerful vindication, an affirmation that purposeful governance, anchored on vision and accountability, still commands genuine recognition. Your thoughtful words, “Your Excellency, your administration’s bold investments in the infrastructural renewal of the Federal Capital Territory have not only redefined Abuja’s global standing but have also inspired confidence in Africa’s capacity for home-grown solutions…” are not taken as flattery, but as a sincere acknowledgment of the collective effort and transformative strides we are making in Abuja. Such commendations, echoed by many discerning voices, from both within and beyond our borders, strengthen our resolve to continue serving with conviction and excellence.

Reflections on Africa’s Present Moment
Africa today stands at a historic crossroads.

” On one hand, we are endowed with immense natural wealth, fertile lands, vibrant cultures, and the youngest population in the world. We are a continent of extraordinary promise, alive with creativity, innovation, and a deep cultural heritage that has shaped humanity itself. Yet, on the other hand, we continue to grapple with weak institutions, infrastructural deficits, widespread unemployment, poverty, and recurrent governance failures that have constrained our progress.

“This is the paradox of our age: how can a continent so richly blessed remain so constrained? How can such abundance coexist with scarcity, such youthful energy be stifled by joblessness, such sovereignty be undermined by fragility? This tension defines Africa’s present moment, a moment of both urgency and immense possibility.

“At the heart of this paradox lies the decisive factor of leadership. Leadership remains the fulcrum upon which the destinies of nations turn.

” It determines whether our vast resources become a blessing or a curse; whether our diversity becomes strength or division; whether our challenges become stumbling blocks or stepping stones. When leadership is visionary, accountable, and courageous, even the most daunting obstacles can be transformed into opportunities.
But leadership must also create the enabling environment for transformation by providing the critical infrastructure that attracts investment, drives productivity, and sustains growth.

At present, the level of investment in Africa remains minimal precisely because of infrastructural decay and policy inconsistency. Roads, power, railways, and digital connectivity are the arteries through which development flows; without them, the economy cannot freely breathe. It is to be deeply regretted that Africa continues to export raw materials and import finished goods, a cycle that perpetuates dependency and stifles industrial growth. This situation is unhealthy for sustainable development, which has eluded the continent for far too long.

“Africa’s future will be written by the kind of leadership we nurture today, leadership that not only dreams, but dares; not only commands, but serves; not only governs, but transforms.

Reimagining Africa’s Leadership in the 21st Century:

“To secure Africa’s future, we must first reimagine leadership itself. The time has come to move beyond transactional leadership, the kind driven by personal gain, patronage, and short-term calculations, to embrace transformational leadership rooted in vision, courage, service, and accountability. Leadership must not exploit, but empower; it must not rule, but serve; it must not merely transact, but transform.

“Many commentators agree that the greatest impediment to Africa’s progress and the chronic ailment that has stifled her development for decades is the plague of poor and mediocre leadership. Across the continent, both in military and civilian dispensations, leaders have often emerged through self-serving conspiracies that bear little or no relation to national interest or development priorities.

” Consequently, many African nations have been saddled with leaders unprepared for the enormity of leadership. The result is a tragic pattern of groping in the dark, with nations endlessly experimenting with the fundamentals of development: basic infrastructure, primary healthcare, functional economies, efficient democratic and judicial systems, and credible institutions.
The 21st century calls for a new kind of African leaders who are prepared, principled, and passionate. Leaders who embody vision, moral character, and resilience. Leaders who believe in Africa’s boundless possibilities and act decisively to unlock them. They must be bold enough to make difficult but necessary decisions; proactive enough to anticipate the future; and committed enough to build systems that prioritize excellence over mediocrity and performance over politics.
The leadership that Africa deserves in the 21st century is one that is about caring rather than controlling.

“A true leader must see himself as a servant, humbled by the weight of responsibility he carries for the welfare of the people. Africa is in urgent need of servant-leaders—leaders who do not see themselves as bosses but as mentors genuinely committed to the building of communities and the upliftment of people. Harry Gordon Selfridge and John C. Maxwell capture this distinction beautifully: “A boss drives his team; a leader guides them. A boss relies on authority; a leader relies on trust and goodwill.

“A boss inspires fear; a leader inspires enthusiasm. A boss says, “I”; a leader says, “We.” A boss demands punctuality; a leader arrives early to lead by example. A boss blames when things go wrong; a leader fixes the problem. A boss knows the path; a leader walks it with the team. A boss says, “Go”; a leader rallies his people with, “Let’s go together!” True leadership, then, is not about position or power, but about inspiring, serving, and journeying with those you lead.” This is the kind of leadership Africa must embrace if we are to move from stagnation to transformation.

Transformational leadership is not an abstract ideal; it is a living reality where bold vision meets purposeful action. Here in Abuja, we have witnessed how infrastructural renewal anchored on political will and strategic investment can turn aspiration into achievement. Roads that were once impassable are now open; bridges connect communities; public spaces once abandoned now thrive with life, enterprise, and hope.

“These are not mere structures of concrete and steel; they are symbols of what is possible when leadership dares to dream and to deliver.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to difficult but necessary reforms further reminds us that leadership is ultimately about sacrifice for the greater good. From the first day of his presidency, Tinubu demonstrated uncommon courage by confronting one of Nigeria’s most intractable challenges, the removal of the fuel subsidy. While previous administrations acknowledged its dangers, none dared to act.

“Tinubu did, understanding the cost but believing in the long-term gain. Today, this bold decision is beginning to yield results: states and local governments now receive higher revenues for development; the burden of debt accumulation is easing; and the price of petrol is gradually aligning with market realities under sound regulatory oversight.
Equally transformative is his effort to decentralize governance and address the structural imbalance of over-centralization. Through the creation of zonal and regional commissions, President Tinubu is devolving development closer to the people, an essential step toward genuine federalism. In the area of security, his administration has invested in the training and retraining of the armed forces and approved the recruitment of forest guards nationwide to reclaim ungoverned spaces from bandits and terrorists. These and other strategic measures are repositioning Nigeria toward stability, productivity, and growth.

“Yet, it must be emphasized that no leader, however visionary or determined, can succeed without the support and cooperation of the people. The burden and glory of national transformation must be shared.

“History teaches us that no nation progresses without synergy between its leadership and followership. Dubai, for example, attained global prominence through the unity of purpose between a decisive leader and a believing people, for, as Yasar Jarrar observed, “Dubai had a leader who acted quickly and decisively, not shaken by challenges, and had his people backing him and believing in his vision.”
If we can reimagine leadership across Africa in this same spirit—leadership that builds, not blames; that inspires, not divides; that empowers, not dominates—then no mountain will be too high, no challenge too great, and no dream too ambitious for our continent. The time for belief is here; the time for action is now. Together, with visionary leadership and a committed citizenry, Africa can begin to realize the continent of its dreams.

Reimagining Investment and Africa’s Path to Transformation
Africa stands today at the threshold of destiny, a continent rich in promise yet still wrestling with the lingering weight of dependence. For too long, Africa has looked outward for solutions to problems that can only be solved from within.

The time has come for Africa to come of age and rise beyond the rhetoric of aid and dependency, and to take deliberate, courageous decisions to chart its own path toward self-reliance, prosperity, and global relevance.