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There is a need to unlock Africa’s potential and set it firmly on the path to prosperity, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Mrs. Nardos Bekele-Thomas has said in her closing remarks at the Africa Investment Forum.
“As I stand here today in this room filled with visionaries, trailblazers, and leaders shaping Africa’s future, I feel humbled and energised. What unites us here is not just a shared ambition but a shared responsibility—to unlock Africa’s potential and set it firmly on the path to prosperity.
“Africa is moving. Goods are moving. Ideas are moving. Money is flowing. People are travelling. Education is reaching across borders, and our youngest entrepreneurs are showing us the way through digital platforms and social media. These flows, Ladies and Gentlemen, represent the heartbeat of Africa. Our role is to make sure it beats stronger and faster and that every corner of this continent feels its pulse,” the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD said.
She alluded to regional economic corridors as pathways to connectivity and transformation and lauded President Adesina and the African Development Bank for convening the transformative platform, which showcases Africa’s vision, ambition, and determination to unlock its vast potential.
The development expert said Dr Adesina’s visionary leadership has united stakeholders to forge partnerships and close deals that have the power to redefine the investment landscape across Africa.
The Power of Connectivity has seen stakeholders hosting both the PIDA Week and the Africa Investment Forum. The 8th PIDA Week was a gathering of over 1,000 participants from across the globe—heads of state, ministers, private sector leaders, and partners. Stakeholders celebrated the remarkable strides made through the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which connects Africa not just physically, but economically, socially, and intellectually.
Participants analysed, discussed, and committed to the development of the 69 Projects under PIDA PAP-2. This integrated corridor approach focuses on linking transport, energy, digital connectivity, and industrial hubs while considering job creation, urban-rural connectivity, and climate resilience.
Corridors like the North-South Corridor are transforming lives—helping farmers in Zambia move their goods to markets in South Africa faster and at lower costs. Over 110 One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) have been planned or operationalised across Africa, dramatically reducing clearance times and fostering intra-African trade.
For instance, the Chirundu OSBP between Zambia and Zimbabwe has cut vehicle clearance times, which took 7 to 10 days to just 2 hours. Similarly, the Cinkansé OSBP between Burkina Faso and Togo reduced border crossing time from two days in 2011 to under four hours by 2018.
“With PIDA’s integrated approach—linking transport, energy, digital connectivity, and industrial hubs — the integrated corridor approach is proof that when we connect Africa, we empower Africa. Announcing the Dakar Financing Summit on Infrastructure Ladies and Gentlemen, building on the momentum of PIDA Week, and the AIF of this week, I am honoured to announce that AUDA-NEPAD, together with AFDB, will host the third Dakar Financing Summit on Infrastructure in the third quarter of 2025.
“This summit will bring together governments, private investors, and development finance institutions to mobilise the resources needed to unlock Africa’s corridors. We will focus on transformative projects that connect nations and create ecosystems where goods, ideas, people, and money flow freely. This is a call to action for every investor in this room. This is your opportunity to be part of Africa’s story—a story of growth, resilience, and innovation. Our youngest generation has already shown us the way. Across social media platforms, they are building digital corridors—connecting businesses, sharing ideas, and creating communities without borders. We must follow their lead and translate this digital energy into physical infrastructure,” HE Bekele-Thomas said
She said there is a need for a Vision to build An Africa That is Connected and United and Not Divided.
Today, Africa is home to some of the world’s youngest, most vibrant minds. But for these minds to flourish, they need roads, rails, and energy. They need policies that foster innovation, education that knows no borders, and systems that allow businesses to scale across the continent. At AUDA-NEPAD, we are working to make this vision a reality.
“Through partnerships with AfDB, the EU, Japan, Germany, and the private sector, we are championing initiatives like the Continental Power System Master Plan, creating a unified electricity market. The Green Infrastructure Corridors Program is driving sustainable development. We are expanding our digital corridors to power borderless education and trade. We are not just building roads and ports; we are also creating opportunities, and value chains, and unlocking Africa’s potential.
“To fully realise this vision, we must focus on three critical pillars. One such is the pillar on Harmonised Policies. Seamless trade and movement require unified regulatory frameworks. The other pillar is Innovative Financing. Public funds alone are not enough. We must attract private capital and foster public-private partnerships. The other pillar is the Inclusion of Women and Youth. Africa’s transformation must include 70% of its citizens, women, and youth,” she added.
Programs like the 1 billion US Dollars 2030 Women and Youth Financial & Economic Inclusion Initiative ensure their voices are part of the conversation.
“A Call to Action Ladies and Gentlemen, Africa is ready. The question is: Are you ready to invest? Invest in the corridors that will connect our businesses and communities. Invest in the digital and physical systems that will power our industries. Invest in education, innovation, and the free flow of goods, ideas, and people. The 2025 Dakar Financing Summit will be a defining moment for Africa. It will be your chance to shape the future—not just for the continent but for the global economy. Let us work together to turn Africa’s potential into wealth for all. Let us transform our corridors into vehicles and pathways to prosperity. And let us build an Africa where connections drive opportunity, where trade fosters unity, and where dreams become realities without borders.”
