As hundreds of Africa’s top financial minds as well as policymakers and other stakeholders convene this week in Abidjan for the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings, the urgency of their task cannot be overstated. The continent is at a critical juncture, with Western aid—most notably from the United States—being scaled back. Africa must now answer a pressing question: how do we sustainably finance our own development? The answer lies not in seeking new patrons but in finally making full use of what we already have. Africa is not poor; it is just that our resources are poorly harnessed. From cobalt and lithium in Central Africa to gold in West Africa, oil in the Gulf of Guinea, and agricultural wealth across the continent, we are sitting on vast natural riches. Yet for decades, we have exported raw resources and imported finished goods, a colonial economic model that continues to bleed the continent of value and opportunity. If there is one message that must ring loud and clear from Abidjan, it should be that value addition is no longer optional but a necessity. We must build the capacity to process our minerals, refine our oil, package our produce, and manufacture locally. Doing so will not only create jobs and stimulate growth but also protect Africa from global economic shocks, aid cuts, and fluctuating commodity prices. We surely must get to a point of saying we have been enough of the basket case! But value addition alone is not enough. Africa must learn to negotiate as a bloc, not as individual, often vulnerable states. Whether it’s trade deals, climate finance, or global supply chain partnerships, a unified voice gives Africa leverage. Our leaders must urgently adopt a Pan-African approach to economic diplomacy—one that promotes intra-Africa trade, regional industrialisation, and policy harmonisation. The AfDB Annual Meetings offer more than just speeches and panels—they offer a platform to chart a bold new course. Let Africa's finance experts rise to the moment and move beyond diagnostics to clear, actionable strategies. The time has come for Africa to finance its own future—not with charity from others, but with courage, coordination, and commitment from within. The ground beneath our feet is rich. What we need now is the will and unity to turn that wealth into lasting prosperity. The sooner we realise that there is no free lunch, the better.
