Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman of SIFAX Group, has called for investment in infrastructure, jobs and regional trade to become a more prominent part of international efforts to prevent conflict.

Afolabi made the call in New York, United States, during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Global Executive Roundtable on Diplomacy, Multilateralism and Conflict Resolution.

He argued that conflict prevention should not focus only on diplomatic intervention after tensions have escalated, but should also address economic conditions that can contribute to instability.

“Peace creates the environment for investment, investment creates opportunity, and opportunity strengthens the foundations of peace.”

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Why investment matters to peacebuilding

Afolabi said the global community is dealing with overlapping challenges, including geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate pressures, inequality and declining confidence in institutions.

He said these challenges require a broader response combining diplomacy and conflict resolution with sustainable economic development.

For Africa, he identified infrastructure deficits, limited access to finance, trade barriers and inadequate economic opportunities as issues that continue to affect development.

According to him, investment should therefore form part of the continent’s broader peacebuilding agenda.

“Africa’s peace building agenda must be accompanied by an investment agenda. We need investment in transport infrastructure, ports, energy, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education and human capital.”

AfCFTA needs infrastructure, Afolabi says

Afolabi also linked economic integration to conflict prevention, arguing that stronger commercial ties can create shared interests between countries.

He said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would require more than agreements between governments to deliver its full potential.

“Trade and connectivity can create shared interests among nations. The success of AfCFTA depends not only on trade agreements but on infrastructure, efficient logistics, digital systems, financing and political cooperation.”

The AfCFTA is designed to create a single market for goods and services across participating African countries. Its effectiveness, however, depends in part on the ability of businesses to move goods, access markets and make cross-border transactions efficiently.

Better roads, ports, rail links, energy supply, digital infrastructure and access to finance can reduce some of the practical barriers to regional commerce.

Private sector role in economic connectivity

Afolabi said businesses can contribute to economic cooperation by creating connections between communities, markets and countries.

He cited SIFAX Group’s operations in maritime, logistics, aviation, financial services, oil and gas and hospitality as examples of sectors through which private investment can support economic connectivity.

He argued that infrastructure should not be viewed solely as a commercial concern.

“A functioning logistics system can connect farmers to markets, manufacturers to consumers, businesses to international value chains and countries to one another.”

According to him, these connections can create economic interests that encourage cooperation and make infrastructure part of a wider peacebuilding strategy.

From conflict response to prevention

Afolabi’s argument places economic opportunity alongside diplomacy as a tool for addressing the conditions that can contribute to instability.

The approach does not suggest that investment alone can prevent conflict. Political disputes, governance challenges, security concerns and social tensions can have multiple causes and often require diplomatic, institutional and security responses.

But the SIFAX chairman said economic inclusion should receive greater attention in international discussions on conflict prevention.

His remarks come as African governments continue to pursue greater regional economic integration while facing challenges around infrastructure financing, industrialisation, trade logistics and access to markets.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has pledged government support to indigenes who returned from South Africa, saying the state will help them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities.

Aiyedatiwa made the commitment on Thursday at a welcoming and empowerment programme for the returnees held at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the Governor’s Office, Akure.

The returnees had left South Africa following what one of their representatives described as violent attacks, difficulties with permits and healthcare, as well as losses of businesses and property.

Aiyedatiwa promises financial support

The governor said the returnees should not see their experience abroad only as a setback, urging them to use the skills, knowledge and exposure they acquired to create new opportunities in Ondo State.

“Look around, look for opportunities, see the needs and meet the needs. That’s how to make money. There are needs everywhere when you look.”

Aiyedatiwa said the state government had approved a sum for each returnee as an initial form of support to enable them settle after their return.

He said the government would also collect their profiles and biodata, with forms to be distributed through the Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations as part of the settlement process.

The governor said successful reintegration should extend beyond bringing citizens home to include skills development, economic assistance, counselling, entrepreneurship and an environment where they can rebuild their livelihoods.

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‘Nigeria has to receive you back’

Aiyedatiwa also urged the returnees to reconnect with their local governments and extended families as they settle back into their communities.

“As long as you are Nigerian, you can live in any part of the country. In South Africa, they don’t want to see you. But there is nowhere we want to send you to.”

“Nigeria has to receive you back as citizens of this country. And since you have traced your roots back to Ondo State, we also receive you as our own.”

The governor said the intervention was intended to give the returnees hope, dignity, opportunity and a sense of belonging after their experiences abroad.

Returnee recounts difficulties in South Africa

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Ajibade James Ogunleye thanked the state government for receiving and supporting them.

Ogunleye described their experiences in South Africa as harrowing, citing violent attacks, problems involving permits and access to healthcare, as well as the loss of businesses and properties.

He said some returnees had to leave behind much of what they had built in South Africa in order to get to safety.

Ogunleye also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and Ondo State Government for facilitating their evacuation and providing accommodation and other assistance.

Ondo says returnees remain part of the state

Earlier, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations, Otunba Wale Akinlosotu, said the returnees were being welcomed to reaffirm that Ondo State remained home to its people, regardless of where they had travelled.

Akinlosotu said the homecoming was more than a ceremonial event and promised that the government would not abandon its citizens during difficult circumstances.

He commended Aiyedatiwa’s intervention, describing it as a response based on empathy and what he called “compassionate leadership”.

The commissioner urged the returnees to make use of the empowerment opportunities being provided by the government and use them as a starting point for rebuilding their livelihoods.

What happens next?

The Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations is expected to collect the returnees’ biodata and profiles as part of the government’s reintegration process.

The governor’s announcement also points to a broader approach that combines immediate financial assistance with skills development, counselling and entrepreneurship support.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Olumide Aserere, thanked stakeholders involved in the returnees’ homecoming and praised the governor for supporting their welfare and reintegration.

The event was attended by Deputy Governor Dr Olayide Adelami, Chief of Staff Prince Segun Omojuwa, members of the State Executive Council and other political appointees.

France has launched a renewed diplomatic and economic push in Africa at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where President Emmanuel Macron pledged a new era of “equal partnership” with African nations.

The summit, co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Macron, has drawn about 4,000 delegates from Africa, France, and other European countries. More than 30 African leaders are also attending.

The event comes at a time when France is facing declining influence in several former colonies in West and Central Africa, where military-led governments and growing anti-French sentiment have challenged Paris’ traditional role on the continent.

French officials hope the Nairobi summit will help reposition France as a modern partner focused on mutual economic growth rather than old-style political influence.

Macron: “France Is Here to Listen”

Speaking during the opening session of a youth-focused networking event ahead of the summit, President Macron said France was seeking a different kind of relationship with African nations.

“France is not in Kenya to tell Kenyans what to do,” Macron said.

He added that France “does not also have the means to help in the old way,” stressing that Paris was in Nairobi “to listen and to understand the dreams of Kenyans and what they are building for themselves.”

Macron said Africa and France should work as equal partners, especially in sectors such as artificial intelligence, agriculture, infrastructure, sports, and the creative industries.

The French president also warned that global competition in artificial intelligence is increasingly being dominated by the United States and Russia, arguing that Africa and Europe should collaborate more closely in emerging technologies.

Ruto Pushes Digital Growth and Financial Reform

President William Ruto used the summit to highlight Kenya’s digital ambitions and infrastructure investments.

Ruto said his government was expanding fibre optic connections across Kenya to support what he described as a digital revolution.

He also described the summit as:

“A renewed and forward-looking partnership between Africa and France, grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and a clear commitment to delivering tangible outcomes.”

The Kenyan leader further called for reforms to the global financial system, arguing that African countries continue to face unfair economic conditions.

According to Ruto, future partnerships between Africa and Western nations must move away from “pre-written narratives” that have historically shaped international relations with the continent.

“The Africa Forward Summit would break barriers and focus on solutions,” he said.

Why the Summit Matters

The summit reflects France’s attempt to redefine its role in Africa after a series of diplomatic and military setbacks in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

In recent years, several African governments have reduced military cooperation with France, while public protests against French influence have intensified in some regions.

Analysts say France is now shifting toward softer diplomacy built around trade, innovation, youth engagement, and cultural partnerships.

The summit’s focus on artificial intelligence, infrastructure, agriculture, sports, and entertainment also reflects Africa’s growing importance as a fast-expanding market with one of the world’s youngest populations.

Focus on Youth, Culture and Innovation

Monday’s pre-summit activities centred on young entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, and innovators.

Organisers said the sessions were designed to encourage collaboration between African and European businesses in the creative economy, sports development, and digital innovation.

Observers say this approach signals a broader effort by France to engage directly with Africa’s younger generation, many of whom have criticised past French policies on the continent.

What Comes Next

Leaders at the summit are expected to discuss new investment agreements, technology partnerships, and infrastructure financing initiatives over the coming days.

Attention will also focus on whether the summit produces concrete economic outcomes or remains largely symbolic.

For African governments, the challenge will be balancing foreign partnerships while maintaining national interests and economic independence.

For France, the summit represents a test of whether it can rebuild trust and relevance in a rapidly changing Africa.