2025 AU Summit: Nigeria’s Digital Leadership and Strategic Role in Africa’s Future

By Kasim Isa Muhammad

Kanempress News

21st February 2025

The 38th African Union (AU) Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15-16, 2025, brought together African Heads of State, policymakers, industry leaders, and intellectuals.

Among the notable attendees were Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The summit focused on “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” addressing historical injustices like slavery and colonization, while also emphasizing forward-thinking solutions for Africa’s future.

One key area of discussion was how Africa can leverage technology and trade to shape its future. In this context, Nigeria was recognized for its leadership in the African tech ecosystem, with Lagos emerging as a growing hub for tech startups. As a major proponent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigeria’s leadership in digital trade was officially acknowledged, with the country named the Digital Trade Champion under AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol.

Nigeria’s influence at the summit was evident in several other areas. The country supported reforms to strengthen the AU’s structure and advocated for a Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea, headquartered in Lagos. Additionally, Nigeria signed agreements to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace operations and enhance counter-terrorism efforts, further cementing its role as a continental leader.

Nigeria also scored a diplomatic victory with the re-election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye to the position of AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ensuring the country’s continued leadership on the AU’s Peace and Security Council.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration made significant strides in showcasing Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, pushing for phased AU reforms and securing agreements in various strategic areas, such as the establishment of the African-led Credit Rating Agency (ACRA), which will offer more transparent assessments of African economies.

The summit also marked the farewell address of Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), who highlighted his decade-long efforts in transforming Africa’s economy, particularly through the High 5s Agenda, which has impacted millions of lives across the continent.

Key highlights of the summit included the Dar Es Salaam Energy Declaration, the African Financing Stability Mechanism, and the Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development, which aims for an annual GDP growth rate of at least 7% over the next five decades.

The election of Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, as Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Algeria’s Ambassador, Salma Malika Haddadi, as Deputy Chairperson, marked a new chapter in Africa’s growth, signaling the importance of continued unity and leadership in shaping the continent’s future.

As the summit concluded, the collective call for unity, technological advancement, and strategic reforms resonated, positioning Africa to better address both current and future challenges.