African business and political leaders have said the continent must invest more in local innovation, reliable infrastructure and cross-sector partnerships to drive long-term economic growth. The call was made at the 2025 Africa Soft Power Summit, which ended on 25 May in Nairobi, Kenya. The summit brought together government officials, business executives, creative professionals and technology experts under the theme, “Africa’s Growth Engine: Aligning the Flow of Money, Innovation, and Global Opportunities.”
The annual summit focused on how Africa can grow its economy by building homegrown solutions and creating systems that match its unique needs. In a statement released by the organisers on Tuesday, they said discussions during the summit showed that Africa’s growth must come from within. They added that the continent’s financial systems, tech industry and creative sector must work together to create sustainable development that includes everyone.
Founder of Africa Soft Power Group, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, said the summit aimed to promote real and practical African-led development. She stressed the need for African countries to stop depending on foreign models for solving their problems.
“We can no longer afford to look outside for answers to problems that are uniquely ours. Innovation must be homegrown, and the infrastructure to support it must be reliable, accessible and inclusive,” she said.
Dr. Balonwu’s statement captured the general mood at the summit, where many speakers said the time had come for Africans to take charge of their growth, especially in key sectors like digital finance, artificial intelligence (AI), remittances and the creative economy.
A Member of Parliament in Kenya, Naisula Lesuuda, raised concerns about what she called “inclusion fatigue” and warned against tokenism in promoting gender equity. She said real change will only happen when women are given equal chances to lead and influence decisions in organisations. Her position was supported by Mary Mulili, Executive Director at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Kenya, who said systems must be redesigned to make leadership fair and accessible to women.
One of the main events of the summit was the Creative & Innovative Industries Conference, where new ideas in AI, digital finance, film, and wellness were discussed. At the conference, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, said financial regulators across Africa are updating laws to support the growth of digital payments. He noted that better infrastructure like electricity and broadband internet is necessary for linking capital with innovation.
“Infrastructure is what connects capital to innovation,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, President of the Senegalese Association for Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Seydina Moussa Ndiaye, said Africa must define its own direction in the use of AI, especially when it comes to data control and the infrastructure needed to power AI systems.
A representative from Google Research Africa, Lorna Omondi, encouraged local developers to take full advantage of open-source AI tools. She said these tools could give Africa a chance to grow its tech sector in a way that includes people from different communities.
On the issue of film and storytelling, Ventures Platform Founding Partner, Kola Aina, said African films must be authentic and profitable if they are to attract serious investment. He called for better data, improved film distribution systems and stronger protection against risk.
Kenyan filmmaker Judy Kibinge said the world often prefers negative African stories and urged creatives to share more real and inspiring African experiences. Michael Strano, a member of the Partners Against Piracy Association of Kenya, said piracy remains a major issue, especially in Kenya, where the film industry loses about $2.2 million daily to illegal copying and distribution.
The summit also explored how industries like beauty and wellness can support women entrepreneurs and create jobs. These sectors, according to the speakers, are helping improve healthcare access and support community development.
Another important topic was the role of African diaspora remittances. Participants said there is a need to shift from personal money transfers to structured investments that support local businesses, climate action and job creation. To achieve this, they suggested better financial policies, more transparent systems, and easier money transfers across African countries.
In conclusion, the summit’s organisers said Africa must create its own systems, ideas, and stories if it wants to grow in a way that benefits everyone. “Africa’s soft power lies in its people, its ideas and its ability to innovate from within,” they said.
