The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a stable and secure environment for investment.
She spoke during an Investors Conference held recently in London. The Africa Debate 2025 brought together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to explore how the continent can leverage its natural capital to build competitive industries, scale advanced manufacturing, and strengthen regional supply chains. With the theme “Harnessing Natural Capital for Growth,” this year’s debate served as a critical platform to address how African economies can move beyond simple resource extraction to drive sustainable industrialisation, bolster climate resilience, and attract private capital into key sectors.
“Mr. President is committed to showcasing our stabilising of the economy, our security situation, everything that makes Nigeria and the trajectory for growth and change. This message of renewed stability and a clear path to growth has been “very, very well received on the global stage,” she added. She emphasised that Nigeria will continue to lead in investor and trade relations, projecting the nation and the broader African continent as a destination for serious, long-term capital.
According to her, the government was addressing legal frameworks to support the private sector in Nigeria’s infrastructure development.
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She indicated that the government remains optimistic about facilitating foreign investments.
The agenda during the conference was broad and impactful, touching on everything from renewable energy and carbon markets to the complex geopolitical dynamics shaping Africa’s role in a multipolar world.
At the heart of the conversation was the need for the continent to assert a stronger voice in global financial reform, a sentiment echoed throughout the day’s discussions.
Chief Executive/ founder of Kuramo Capital Management, Wale Adeosun, spoke passionately about the need for “patient partnerships that build shared prosperity,” distinguishing this approach from the “extractive capital” that has historically dominated the continent.
Adeosun shared a powerful case study from Kuramo Capital’s portfolio: its investment in PHC, the largest industrial palm oil producer in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Through a strategy focused on empowering locals and building strong partnerships, he indicated that PHC has doubled its production in just three years, increased its female workforce by 300%, and reduced operational costs by half. This success story, he noted, proves that it is “possible to invest in Africa” and achieve significant, transformative results. The fact that Kuramo Capital, a Nigerian-based firm, was the investor, further underscored the potential for “Africans to actually invest within Africa and create and make a beautiful success story together.”
The debate also put a spotlight on Kenya. President Ruto’s rousing speech and the presence of a strong Kenyan delegation highlighted the country’s remarkable transformation and its position as the financial capital of East Africa. Adeosun praised Kenya’s leadership and noted Kuramo Capital’s long-standing commitment to the country, where it has invested in several businesses across various sectors.
Adeosun also discussed Kuramo Capital’s commitment to gender diversity and empowering female leadership. When asked if he considered himself a feminist, he offered a pragmatic analogy: “if you’re going to battle, you use all your resources, even the strongest.”
He detailed the firm’s structured approach to empowering women fund managers through a model called ABCD, which stands for Accelerating, Building, Catalyzing, and Developing.
The initiative, according to him, identifies and supports first-time women fund managers by providing them with working capital, helping them build a track record, and connecting them with additional investment.
