Early Monday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reached Nairobi. The Kenyatta International Convention
Centre hosted him Tuesday. His visit marks the start of the 2026 Africa-France Summit. He landed in the city just hours after beginning the journey.
Off came the red carpet when Nigeria’s president stepped off the plane, greeted by top Kenyan authorities alongside event coordinators. Twenty-nine fellow national leaders were already gathered for the major meeting. Hosted together by Kenya’s William Ruto and France’s Emmanuel Macron, the conference carries a banner titled “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.”
Midnight arrivals often bring quiet steps, yet this one carried weight – President Tinubu landed around 12:18 a.m.
Monday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Waiting there, Musalia Mudavadi stood ready, taking on duties as Kenya’s voice abroad. Talks ahead will stretch across urgent themes, from shifting how power is made to handling tech changes, then moving toward fighting climate threats. The plane’s descent marked more than travel; it signaled engagement, confirmed by spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
Top figures from Nigeria are part of the group attending, including Foreign Affairs head Bianka Ojukwu along with Bosun Tijani who leads Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. With these leaders showing up, it signals that Nigeria wants to use the event as a chance to pull in outside funding while also deepening ties within the region economically.
Over several days, talks will take place where President Tinubu plans to meet various leaders, focusing on progress within Nigeria’s economy under what some call the Renewed Hope Agenda. Once the gathering in Nairobi wraps up, reports suggest his next stop is Kigali, where discussions at the Africa CEO Forum await.
