Agriculture is set to take centre stage at the Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi, with experts urging African nations to use the sector as a pathway to economic independence and global influence.

In an opinion piece, Calistus K. Efukho, Acting Director General of the Agriculture and Food Authority, argues that Africa must shift from being a supplier of raw materials to a key player in global value chains.

He says the summit presents an opportunity to redefine Africa’s economic relationships, particularly with Europe.

Why it matters

For decades, Africa’s trade with Europe has followed a familiar pattern: exporting raw commodities while importing finished goods and technology.

Mr Efukho warns this model has “increased dependency and reduced strategic autonomy”.

He argues agriculture offers a way out, combining food security, industrialisation, trade reform, and climate commitments into one strategy.

“The conversation is not about who owns the soil itself. It is about who owns the processing factories, who sets standards, and eventually who controls the logistics corridors,” he writes.

A shift in global partnerships

The summit reflects a broader shift in Africa-Europe relations, moving from aid-based engagement to investment partnerships.

France has signalled its intention to transition “from aid to co-investment”, a move Mr Efukho says should be approached with “cautious confidence”.

He insists Africa must define the terms of such partnerships, ensuring local ownership, technology transfer, and transparent financing.

Initiatives like the Africa-France Impact Coalition and the Kampala Declaration on Food Systems (2025) are seen as early steps, but their success will depend on implementation.

Agriculture as a diplomatic tool

Mr Efukho frames agriculture not just as an economic sector, but as a diplomatic instrument.

He suggests it gives Africa leverage in global negotiations, linking trade, development, and climate policy.

Regional frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could help build integrated value chains across the continent.

Lessons from Kenya

Kenya’s agricultural sectors, including dairy, tea, coffee, and horticulture are highlighted as examples of how local value addition can drive growth.

According to Mr Efukho, processing goods closer to producers increases incomes and strengthens political influence.

This model, he suggests, could be replicated across Africa.

What’s expected from the summit

The Africa Forward Summit, scheduled for 11–12 May 2026, is expected to produce concrete outcomes rather than broad declarations.

Mr Efukho says the Nairobi Declaration should include:

Investment targets

Technology transfer benchmarks

Funding timelines

Monitoring frameworks

“In diplomacy, clarity is key,” he notes.

Industry and public perspective

Analysts say strengthening agricultural value chains could create jobs, reduce import dependence, and stabilise African economies.

However, challenges remain, including infrastructure gaps, financing constraints, and policy coordination across countries.

There is also growing public interest in ensuring that foreign partnerships deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

The bigger picture

Mr Efukho concludes that Africa must reposition itself as an equal partner in global development.

“The true subject of negotiation is fairness, who participates, who profits, and who makes decisions.”

He adds that the goal is not confrontation, but “reciprocity”.

About the Africa Forward Summit

The Africa Forward Summit is a joint Africa–France initiative, co-hosted by Kenya and France with African Union endorsement.

It aims to redefine cooperation through innovation, shared investment, and African-led development.

Wema Bank has marked its 81st anniversary alongside the ninth anniversary of its digital banking platform, ALAT by Wema, with a series of customer reward initiatives and new engagement campaigns.

The bank said the celebrations, held on May 2, 2026, would focus on giving back to customers rather than hosting large-scale events.

As part of the anniversary, Wema Bank is launching the fifth season of its “5 for 5” reward programme, alongside in-app rewards for ALAT users.

Why it matters

The move reflects a growing shift in Nigeria’s banking sector towards digital-first services and customer engagement.

Since its launch in 2017, ALAT has helped reshape how many Nigerians interact with financial services, offering account opening, payments and savings tools without requiring physical branch visits.

This comes at a time when competition among banks is intensifying, particularly in digital banking and financial inclusion.

‘Helping customers adapt to a changing world’ — CEO

Speaking on the anniversary, Wema Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, said the initiative was designed to support customers in an evolving digital economy.

“The world is rapidly evolving. Digital evolution and emerging technologies continue to present newer opportunities and realities,” he said.

“To thrive, one must be prepared to adapt where needed and ready to leverage the possibilities ahead; and this is what we want to help our customers achieve.”

He added that the bank is focused on building a financial ecosystem that aligns with customer needs.

“We are building a smarter and more secure financial future for our customers, one where banking is effortlessly aligned with their goals.”

ALAT at 9: From digital banking to ecosystem

Wema Bank says ALAT has evolved into a broader financial ecosystem over the past nine years.

The platform now includes savings tools such as ALAT Goals, payment solutions, and features aimed at improving financial access.

To mark the milestone, the bank has launched the “ALAT at 9” campaign, featuring interactive activities and rewards.

These include:

Personalised “ALAT Wrapped” summaries of users’ activity

A “9 features in 9 days” engagement challenge

Instant rewards for transactions completed at specific times

A jingle challenge encouraging user-generated content

‘Making banking more interactive’ — Chief Digital Officer

Wema Bank’s Chief Digital Officer, Olusegun Adeniyi, said the campaign aims to make banking more engaging.

“With ALAT at 9, we are transforming routine banking into an interactive experience,” he said.

“By combining personalized insights, gamified missions, and real rewards, we are creating a platform that responds to users in a more dynamic and rewarding way.”

Customer impact and industry perspective

Analysts say initiatives like this could help deepen customer loyalty and drive digital adoption in Nigeria’s banking sector.

For customers, the benefits are immediate — from rewards to easier access to financial tools.

For the wider economy, increased use of digital banking platforms could support financial inclusion, especially among younger users and small businesses.

What’s next

Wema Bank says the anniversary activities will run throughout May 2026, with customers encouraged to update or download the ALAT app via app stores.

More details are available via the bank’s official website:

👉 https://wemabank.com

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has announced a new collaboration with the Lagos Business School aimed at improving training and strengthening recruitment standards into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The partnership follows a courtesy visit by a delegation from Lagos Business School to the Commission, where both institutions discussed capacity building and institutional development.

Why it matters

Nigeria’s police recruitment process has long faced scrutiny over transparency, merit, and professionalism.

This collaboration signals a shift towards structured training and global standards—factors experts say are critical to building public trust in law enforcement.

Better-trained recruitment officials could lead to higher-quality police personnel and improved service delivery nationwide.

Push for credibility and standards

Leading the LBS delegation, Victor Banjo, praised the Commission’s recent efforts to reform its processes.

He said the visit was aimed at building synergy in training and capacity development.

“The visit was aimed at synergising with the Commission on capacity building,” Mr Banjo said.

He also commended the PSC leadership for improving credibility in ongoing recruitment exercises.

“We commend the Commission… for restoring pride in its affairs and bringing credibility to the ongoing recruitment process into the Nigeria Police Force.”

Mr Banjo added that the Commission’s focus on ethics and sustainability could shape the quality of future police recruits.

PSC reaffirms commitment to global best practices

Responding, PSC Chairman DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd) welcomed the partnership and reiterated the Commission’s reform agenda.

“The Commission will welcome greater collaboration with the Lagos Business School in training its officials,” he said.

He stressed that recruitment into the police must follow strict procedures to achieve quality outcomes.

“Processes and procedures determine product or output.”

Mr Argungu added that the current recruitment exercise aligns with global best practices and aims to attract the most suitable candidates.

Industry and public perspective

Security analysts say partnerships like this could help professionalise Nigeria’s policing system.

Civil society groups have also consistently called for reforms in police recruitment, citing concerns about nepotism and lack of transparency in past exercises.

What’s next

While details of the training framework are yet to be made public, both institutions are expected to outline specific programmes in the coming months.

Observers say the success of the partnership will depend on implementation, monitoring, and sustained political will.