NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2026 (XOL Africa) — Africa is pressing for a larger role in the global economy, with political leaders, investors and executives gathering in New York to argue that the continent must capture more value from its natural resources, deepen regional trade and gain greater influence in international decision-making.
The message was a central theme at the fifth edition of Unstoppable Africa, the flagship gathering of the Global Africa Business Initiative, held alongside the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres used the forum to renew calls for Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, linking greater political representation with the continent’s expanding economic importance.
“Africa needs a permanent presence on the United Nations Security Council, where it can contribute to dialogue and action for the whole globe,” Guterres said.
He also called for reforms to international institutions to better reflect the interests of developing countries and urged African nations to extract more economic value from critical minerals and other natural resources instead of relying primarily on exports of unprocessed commodities.
The debate reflects a broader shift in the continent’s economic strategy. Rather than positioning Africa principally as a supplier of commodities to global markets, governments and businesses are increasingly seeking investment in processing, manufacturing and infrastructure that can retain a larger share of value within African economies.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, pointed to Africa’s population of about 1.5 billion and its expanding consumer market as a major economic opportunity.
But turning that potential into industrial growth will require cheaper and more reliable energy, better infrastructure, access to finance, stronger skills and technology, as well as common standards and fewer barriers to intra-African trade, he said.
The private sector was prominent in the discussions, with executives from finance, mining and industry focusing on the investment required to build African value chains.
Participants included Samaila Zubairu, president and chief executive of Africa Finance Corp.; Aliko Dangote, founder and chairman of Dangote Group; Mandy DeFilippo, chief executive for the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa at Standard Chartered; Nonkululeko Nyembezi, chairperson of Standard Bank Group; Nolitha Fakude, chairperson of Anglo American South Africa; and Tidjane Thiam, general partner at Allied Critical Minerals Fund.
A recurring theme was the need to move beyond exporting raw materials, including crude oil and critical minerals, towards local processing and manufacturing.
That transition could allow African economies to create more jobs and retain a greater proportion of the economic value generated by the continent’s resources.
Nigeria’s renewable-energy fund reaches first close
One of the concrete announcements at the gathering was the first close of the $300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, marking the beginning of its investment operations.
The fund is being co-managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and Africa50 and will provide equity financing to local clean-energy developers.
Its investments are expected to cover solar mini-grids, solar home systems, commercial and industrial power projects and energy-storage solutions.
The initiative is aligned with Mission 300, the international effort to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. Its sponsors say the fund is intended to mobilise additional private capital while expanding reliable electricity supplies for Nigerian households and businesses.
Energy infrastructure featured prominently in the wider discussions, with World Bank Group Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde and Damilola Ogunbiyi, chief executive of Sustainable Energy for All and a special representative of the UN secretary-general, among those discussing ways to attract more private investment into Africa’s power sector.
Healthcare was also framed as an economic and development priority. Roche reiterated its commitment to its Africa Breast Cancer Ambition, which aims to help 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Africa survive for at least five years by 2030.
The second day of Unstoppable Africa is scheduled to focus on digital transformation, investment, creative industries, sport and Africa’s changing position in the global economy.
For African policymakers and business leaders, the central question is increasingly not whether the continent possesses the resources and markets to participate in the next phase of global growth, but how much of the resulting value will be created and retained within Africa.
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