Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is in Rwanda to attend the African Renaissance Retreat, a high-level gathering that brings together some of Africa’s most influential business leaders, policymakers, and thinkers.
The retreat, co-founded by President Paul Kagame and Aliko Dangote, serves as a platform for reflection, collaboration, and the exchange of progressive ideas aimed at shaping Africa’s future. The second edition of the retreat is taking place from November 14–16, 2025, at The Pinnacle Hotel in Kigali.
A Platform for Reimagining Africa’s Future
The African Renaissance Retreat seeks to rethink the continent’s historical challenges and chart a new vision driven by Africans themselves. Discussions this year are centered on practical solutions to pressing issues facing the continent, including obstacles to sustainable development, investment gaps, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
Opening the retreat, Dangote delivered a strong message about leadership, saying:
“We need leaders with purpose. Without them, we cannot build anything meaningful.”
Prominent Speakers and Strategic Conversations
The event features several high-profile conversations, including a session with former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
On the second day, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika presented Rwanda’s ongoing progress across key sectors, followed by multiple panel discussions aimed at turning ideas into actionable strategies.
The day concluded with a joint conversation between former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and former South African President Thabo Mbeki, both of whom have been central voices in Africa’s developmental discourse.
Equity Bank Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi also addressed participants, emphasizing the need to formalize Africa’s informal sector. “If we fail to transform informal jobs into formal ones, we will face serious challenges. Africa must understand its past and where it wants to go,” he said.
Kagame and Dangote to Lead Closing Dialogue
A key highlight of the retreat is a special dialogue between President Paul Kagame and Aliko Dangote focused on Africa’s economic transformation, industrial growth, and the continent’s long-term development pathways.
The duo last met publicly in July 2025 during the inauguration of Zaria Court, a major entertainment complex in Kigali. At the time, President Kagame praised Dangote’s commitment to Africa’s progress, saying: “Some of us are proud to work with him and many other leaders. Thank you, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for your continued efforts toward Africa’s development.”
Kagame also highlighted Dangote’s role in revitalizing the concept of the African Renaissance, a vision rooted in Africa’s self-determination and progress.
This idea, originally popularized in the mid-20th century by Senegalese historian Cheikh Anta Diop and later championed by Thabo Mbeki, promotes a continent defined not by conflict, corruption, or poverty but by prosperity, innovation, and dignity.
Dangote’s Renewed Commitment to an African Renaissance
Dangote has recently renewed his commitment to breathing life into the African Renaissance vision, aiming to rally African leaders, entrepreneurs, and young innovators around a shared agenda for transformation.
As the 2025 retreat concludes, Kigali once again cements its position as one of Africa’s leading hubs for strategic dialogue and continental progress.
