By Emmanuel Babafemi
July 28, 2028
Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has called for stronger collaboration between Africa and its global diaspora to unlock investment, innovation and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
Osinbajo made the call while chairing a high level meeting on Unlocking Diaspora Capital for Africa’s Transformation through the African Diaspora Investment Corridor Initiative, held on July 28 on the sidelines of the 2026 African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council, ECOSOCC, Citizens’ Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting was co hosted by the African Union ECOSOCC, INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, Future Perspectives, the African Union Citizens and Diaspora Organisations Directorate, CIDO, and Cleva.
The initiative seeks to establish an African Diaspora Investment Corridor that will channel diaspora capital, expertise, innovation and strategic partnerships into priority sectors of African economies to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development.
It also aims to strengthen collaboration among governments, financial institutions, development partners, the private sector and African diaspora communities through innovative financing mechanisms capable of unlocking long term investments across the continent.
Osinbajo said Africa’s diaspora remains one of the continent’s greatest strategic assets, not only because of the billions of dollars remitted annually, but also for its wealth of knowledge, entrepreneurship, technology, professional expertise and global networks that can drive Africa’s transformation.
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He stressed that translating the diaspora’s potential into measurable development outcomes would require stronger institutions, enabling policies and effective partnerships across Africa and beyond.
The meeting brought together senior African Union officials, policymakers, development experts, investors, financial institutions and representatives of diaspora organisations to explore practical strategies for mobilising diaspora resources to support the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Among those in attendance were Presiding Officer of ECOSOCC, Louis Cheick Sissoko, Director of the African Union Citizens and Diaspora Organisations Directorate, Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, representative of the African Institute of Remittances, Hailu Kinfe, WIDU Africa Advisory Board member and Chairman of Code for Afrika e. V., Dr. Yeboah, Executive Director of the Teaching Artist Institute and African diaspora representative, Kim Poole, as well as Victoria Manya and Dr. Anika Altaf of the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform.
Discussions focused on expanding diaspora investment, improving cross border financing mechanisms, strengthening policy coordination and creating practical pathways for Africans in the diaspora to contribute more effectively to the continent’s economic transformation.
The meeting formed part of the 2026 ECOSOCC Citizens’ Forum, held from July 25 to 29 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The forum convened government representatives, civil society organisations, development partners, private sector leaders, youth groups and members of the African diaspora to promote citizen participation, strengthen continental partnerships and advance the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
