Wale Tinubu, the Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, is urging African nations to take charge of their own destiny by building a robust, self-sufficient energy and financial infrastructure.
During a recent fireside chat with Omar Yedder, Group Publisher and Managing Director of African Business, at the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF 2025) in Algeria, Tinubu laid out a vision for the continent’s future based on internal investment, stronger regional partnerships, and smart use of its natural resources.
Reflecting on his own journey as an entrepreneur, Tinubu described business leadership as the art of overcoming obstacles.
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He explained that Oando’s success is a testament to the company’s ability to foresee future challenges, manage risks, and create new solutions.
“Our success is truly defined by our capacity to anticipate tomorrow’s problems, manage risk, and create solutions,” he was quoted as saying in a company statement.
A central point of his discussion was the significant shift in Africa’s financial sector over the past two decades.
He noted that local and regional banks now hold far more influence in a space once dominated by international lenders.
Tinubu singled out the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as a key player, highlighting its growth from a $1 billion institution to one with $7 billion in assets.
He praised such institutions for empowering African enterprises with the kind of funding previously only available to large multinational corporations.
Looking ahead, Tinubu strongly endorsed the proposed African Energy Bank (AEB).
He called it a vital initiative that would enable the continent to fund its own energy transition while simultaneously tackling the critical issue of energy poverty, which leaves 45% of Africans without electricity.
He stressed that Africa must use its abundant natural gas reserves as a transitional fuel to power its homes and industries.
“You can’t expect people to focus on clean energy when they’re still struggling for survival,” he stated, adding that an African energy bank could “pool capital, support indigenous champions, and create a new African renaissance.”
Tinubu also expressed strong confidence in Nigeria’s economy, following the recent government decisions to float the naira and end fuel subsidies.
He called these moves courageous and said they are already attracting foreign capital, increasing government revenue, and stabilising markets. “We are extremely bullish about the future of Nigeria. All the indices are positive,” he affirmed.
When discussing barriers to trade within Africa, Tinubu pointed to issues like complex visa processes and a lack of integrated payment systems.
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He urged African leaders to prioritise these “software of integration” elements, arguing that it is “archaic that it’s easier to do business in Europe than within Africa.”
Tinubu highlighted Oando’s core values of boldness, resilience, and commitment to global standards. “We want to do the impossible,” he said.
He emphasised that the company measures its performance against the world’s best and continues to push forward despite the challenges.
