Heirs Holdings Founder, Mr Tony Elumelu, has told Presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron that Africa wants partners of substance, based on equality stressing that power and infrastructure must come first.

At the 2026 Africa Forward Summit (AFS), convened by Kenyan President Ruto and French President Macron, Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony Elumelu, delivered a direct message to a room of heads of state, investors and global business leaders stating that, Africa is open for partnership, not patronage.

“We welcome true partnership — partnerships of substance and based on equity — where Africans and African solutions catalyse Africa’s future,” he remarked.

Elumelu argued that Africa’s transformation hinges on two foundational investments — electricity and infrastructure — and that private capital must do the heavy lifting. “The private sector is what will help us mobilise capital to drive investment in infrastructure, investment in electricity. These are two critical requirements for the economic prosperity and development of Africa,” he stated.

“If we create the right operating environment, we will create jobs for our people. We will alleviate poverty and deliver growth and prosperity.” With more than 65 per cent of Africans under 35, Elumelu pushed back hard against the traditional language of aid. “In Africa, we have a young population. There is no room for a victim mentality.

Our youth do not need handouts; they need jobs, they need improved access to electricity, they need to join the internet. What is important is providing this enablement, this infrastructure requirement, so that our young ones can realise their potential.”