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Tinubu Calls on US to Invest in Africa’s Clean Energy Future
President Bola Tinubu has called on the US to help Africa strike a balance between poverty and green energy transition. The President made the call in Washington, DC, on Monday while delivering a keynote address at the US-Africa Business Summit.
“Africa is facing a critical challenge: how to transition to a clean energy future while also lifting millions of people out of poverty,” Tinubu said. “The United States has a critical role to play in helping Africa meet this challenge.”
Tinubu noted that Africa is the world’s poorest continent, with over 400 million people living on less than $1.90 a day. He said that Africa’s reliance on fossil fuels has made it difficult to address poverty, as the cost of energy has risen in recent years.
“Our democracy needs protection like all other democracies in the world. We cherish our partnership with the US. My concern is whether the United States is giving us as much as we need. The US should not make us hungry to the point where we will have to eat the dinner of our enemy.
“We need the funding support to help us drive and accelerate our energy diversification. There are bottlenecks that must be unbottled in terms of how the US bureaucracy responds to our needs. Help must be given when it is needed.
We are ready to learn and develop to join the 21st-century economy. Please take it home that we need help and very quickly too. I am honoured by your recognition of the baby steps we have taken so far. I want to assure you that Nigeria will honour her obligations on climate change and renewables,” the president said.
“We need to find a way to transition to clean energy without leaving millions of Africans behind,” Tinubu said. “The United States can help us do this by providing financial assistance, technology, and expertise.”
Tinubu also called on the United States to invest in Africa’s infrastructure, education, and healthcare systems. He said that these investments would help Africa create jobs, grow its economy, and reduce poverty.
“The United States has a moral obligation to help Africa,” Tinubu said. “We are all part of the global community, and we must work together to address the challenges we face.”
The US-Africa Business Summit is an annual event that brings together business leaders from the United States and Africa to discuss trade and investment opportunities. The summit is co-hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce and the African Development Bank.