Kingsley Amafibe: Driving Trade Liberalisation, Homegrown Solutions and Sustainable Devt for Africa
The 2025 100 Most Notable Africans Leadership and Business Summit, held recently in Kigali, Rwanda, convened influential leaders from across the continent to chart a path toward economic self-reliance, trade liberalisation, and sustainable development. Centred on the theme “Shaping Africa’s Future Through Collaboration and Partnership,” the summit underscored the need for African nations to leverage internal strengths—particularly in agriculture and mineral resources—to drive industrial growth, reduce poverty, and move away from dependency on foreign aid. Championed by Project Director Africa of the 100 Most Notable Peace Icons, Dr. Kingsley Amafibe, who has resiliently curated a platform that celebrates African excellence while fostering dialogue around economic liberation and collaboration, the summit also recognised 100 distinguished individuals as Most Notable Peace Icons in Africa, who have made significant contributions to peace and nation-building across the continent. Precious Ugwuzor reports.
The urgent need to liberalise trade and harness homegrown solutions to Africa’s developmental challenges took centre stage at the recently concluded 100 Most Notable Africans Leadership and Business Summit 2025 held in Kigali, Rwanda.
With the theme “Shaping Africa’s Future Through Collaboration and Partnership,” the summit brought together influential leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs who called for a shift away from dependency on foreign aid and towards a renewed focus on intra-African collaboration, resource development, and industrial growth.
The gathering became a rallying point for reimagining Africa’s economic future through the lens of self-reliance, agricultural transformation, and mineral resource optimisation.
Meanwhile, the summit also afforded the organisers the opportunity to honour individuals who have made impact in nation-building across the African continent through the 100 Most Notable Peace Icons Awards.
Shaping Africa’s future Through Collaboration and Partnership
The 100 Most Notable Africans Leadership and Business Summit in Kigali 2025, the capital of Rwanda has come to a successful end but not without the key takeaways from the event where stakeholders highlighted the need to countries in Africa to look inward to proffer solutions to its economic challenges.
Speakers at the event believe that Africa has what it takes to build its economic empire and solve its developmental problems without relying on foreign aid.
It was an opportunity to raise the consciousness of leaders to look within their nations and explore their abundant mineral resources and capacity in agriculture to lift people out of poverty, grow industries and create wealth for the good of the continent.
In his remarks, the Project Director Africa, 100 Most Notable Peace Icon Africa, Amb Dr. Kingsley Amafibe while speaking on the topic, “Shaping Africa’s future Through Collaboration and Partnership” said creating a platform like African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction, connecting over a billion Africans to trade in one single market, bringing in their areas of strength to complement each.
He said the summit is a large platform for industrialists, policymakers, political office holders, and key stakeholders in the African economic landscape to share ideas on how to work together for the good of the continent.
Torhile A. Uchi and Dr. Angel Nationota; His Excellency Rt. Hon. Peter Odey; Dr. Mncedisi Dube, Muyiwa Fatosa, Chinedum Ucheoma, Dr. Daniel Moses, Mr. Michael Odere, Amb. Dr. Tosin Ladejobiq, Hon. Sekibo, Rahim Bah, Dr.Amit N. Thakker, EBS, Eur Ing Dr. Chinedu Ogwus, Dr.George Kelly D. Alabo, and Chief Chris Agara.
Not left out were Dr Peter Chuka Nwachukwu, Alhaji Abdul Chukkol, Mathew Elvis Ekpeohanreste, Ruqayya Tofa Basheer, Dr.Nimi Briggs Torhile, Mrs. Lois Andrew (Lola Andy), Ramalan Rotimi Buhari, DCP Dr.Usman Musa, Munyakazi Sedate, Bruce Melodie, Dr Abdelhak Najib, H.E Amb Prof Smelly Dube, Mrs.Asu Kunemofa, Professor Haruna Musa, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Dr.Steve Ayiyi, Chief.Prof, Dr GD Singh, Engr. Gbenga Komola Fense and Rear Admiral Kashimu Bushi.
According to Dr. Amafibe, the honour was to encourage and spur them to continue using their platforms in various life endeavours to promote peace across Africa.
He stated that the development of the African continent is largely hinged in the peace and stability of various nations, urging that all hands should be on deck to raise the bar of brotherliness across board.
