Lerato D. Mataboge

Driving Continental Execution Strategies at the Nedbank Chairperson’s Dialogue On 14 May 2026, the Nedbank Group convened regional business leaders, development partners, and policy architects in Sandton for the Chairperson’s Dialogue. Addressing the core theme of realising African potential through disciplined execution, H.E. Commissioner @LDMataboge delivered the keynote address. Her remarks set a clear mandate for the continent, signalling that the planning phase is now transitioning into a decade of delivery. Moving away from fragmented interventions, the African Union Commission is prioritising coordinated systems transformation across transport corridors, energy grids, and digital infrastructure. The high-level panel engagement examined the interconnected nature of continental development bottlenecks. Sharing the platform with Nedbank Group Chairman Daniel Mminele, Nedbank Chief Executive Jason Quinn, Dr Kennedy Mbekeani of the African Development Bank, Professor @vukosi Marivate of the University of Pretoria, Finhai Munzara of Cassava Technologies, and Nedbank economist Liandra da Silva, the discussion explored pragmatic pathways for economic growth. The broad consensus from the deliberations highlighted that unlocking the value of the African Continental Free Trade Area requires closing the regional infrastructure gap through coordinated multilateral financing. Furthermore, advancing technological sovereignty and inclusive artificial intelligence necessitates the rapid expansion of pan-African broadband networks and scalable data centres. Across these domains, navigating macroeconomic volatility with absolute policy certainty was identified as paramount to securing long-term developmental capital. The dialogue concluded that for true industrialisation to take hold, the relationship between governments and the private sector must evolve beyond transactional financing into a collaborative architecture for implementation. By aligning credible regulatory frameworks, robust project preparation, and domestic capital mobilisation, the African Union Commission and its partners aim to fundamentally alter the developmental trajectory of the continent. @FifiPeters #AfricanUnion #NedbankDialogue #Agenda2063 #InfrastructureDevelopment #ContinentalExecution #TheAfricaWeBuild

From mobilising private capital and scaling infrastructure to unlocking value across energy, transport, trade, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure, Day 1 of #TheAfricaWeBuildSummit in Nairobi focused on practical partnerships and scalable solutions to drive growth across the continent. The Summit featured the launch of AFC’s State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026, alongside insightful discussions from distinguished leaders including H.E. Dr. @WilliamsRuto , President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. @KagutaMuseveni , President of the Republic of Uganda; Mr.@AlikoDangote ; and H.E. @LDMataboge , Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy at the @_AfricanUnion Commission. Key highlights also included the announcement of AFC’s regional office in Kenya, the signing of the commitment by the @DBSA_Bank to AFC Capital Partners’US$750 million Infrastructure Climate Resilient Fund (ICRF), and engaging panel and roundtable discussions with industry experts. Thank you to all our speakers, partners, and participants for contributing to a successful Summit. hashtag#TheAfricaWeBuild hashtag#AfricaWeBuild hashtag#TAWBS26 hashtag#AFC

Driving Institutional Synergy at the 74th @NEPAD_Agency Steering Committee   14 May 2026 marked the opening of the 74th Ordinary Session of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD Steering Committee. Delivering the opening statement on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssef, H.E. Commissioner @LDMataboge reaffirmed the unwavering commitment to deep institutional alignment between the Commission and the development agency. The Commissioner emphasised the importance of the value-chain of work between the Commission and the development agency, from political direction to policy to implementation. The first day of deliberations focused on the critical convergence of the strategic policy leadership of the Commission and the technical execution capabilities of AUDA-NEPAD. Addressing the assembly, Commissioner Mataboge emphasised that navigating the current global landscape requires absolute agility, collaboration, and innovation. The ongoing discussions aim to translate the overarching aspirations of Agenda 2063 into tangible progress through shared leadership and proactive oversight. #AfricanUnion #AUDANEPAD #Agenda2063 #TheAfricaWeWant #InstitutionalSynergy

1/3 Executive Secretary @claverGatete met with @_AfricanUnion Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, @LDMataboge and team to discuss the strong partnership to advance transport infrastructure to meet the #SDGs and #Agenda2063...

Voices shaping Africa’s infrastructure future. The opening of the Ministerial Session of the 5th Ordinary Session of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Transport and Energy featured high-level interventions from leaders across the continent, setting the tone for the discussions ahead. Speakers underscored the urgency for stronger coordination, accelerated project delivery, and sustained investment in Africa’s transport and energy systems. As deliberations continue, the emphasis remains clear, aligning policy with action to drive connectivity, energy security, and inclusive growth across Africa. #STCTransportEnergy

Ministers Adopt the Johannesburg Declaration as the 5th Ordinary Session of the STC on Transport and Energy Successfully Concludes Ministers from across the continent have adopted the Johannesburg Declaration, reaffirming Africa’s collective commitment to accelerate infrastructure development, expand energy access, and advance sustainable mobility. From advancing the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa to operationalising the African Single Electricity Market, the outcomes signal a decisive shift towards implementation, financing, and delivery. Key highlights include: ✔️ Endorsement of the Continental Framework on Electric Mobility in Africa and the Pan-African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM) ✔️ Approval of the Africa Energy Efficiency Facility (AfEEF) and the Ten-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan (TYIIP) ✔️ Continued progress on flagship initiatives such as AfSEM, CMP, and PIDA PAP2 The Declaration underscores the urgency to strengthen regional integration, mobilise financing, and deliver resilient, climate-aligned infrastructure systems across the continent. As we depart Johannesburg, we carry forward a renewed spirit of unity and purpose—translating commitments into tangible impact for Africa’s people and economies.

Transport and Energy Ministers convene in Johannesburg for the 5th Ordinary Session of the African Union STC on Transport and Energy Following intensive deliberations by continental experts, the Ministerial Session of the 5th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Transport and Energy officially opened this morning in Johannesburg. With representatives from 37 Member States in attendance, the high-level gathering signals Africa’s strong commitment to accelerating the implementation of its energy and transport priorities. Infrastructure is increasingly recognised as the connective tissue of industrialisation, trade, and regional integration—making this Session a critical moment to advance practical solutions and deliver tangible results.

AU Commission Drives Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation at The Africa We Build Summit The African Union Commission continues to shape the strategic direction of continental development. At The Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, H.E. Commissioner @LDMataboge delivered a definitive message on the future of African integration. She championed the urgent need to transition from building fragmented, isolated assets to engineering integrated economic corridors that connect domestic processing to reliable energy and efficient logistics. This systems-driven vision extends beyond the summit stage. The Commissioner also provided the strategic foreword for the newly launched 2026 State of Africa's Infrastructure Report by the @africa_finance. Within the publication, she writes that "Africa's infrastructure challenge is no longer primarily about building assets, but about ensuring that those assets function as part of integrated systems that support industrial-level economic activity." She further notes that "what is required now is sustained alignment between infrastructure, policy, and capital to deliver results at scale." Her contribution reinforces the core summit narrative by highlighting a critical structural paradox. While Africa commands over USD 2 trillion in institutional capital pools, a lack of bankable project preparation and fragmented national planning keeps this wealth from delivering true industrialisation. To bridge this gap, the African Union Commission structures the governance required to deploy capital effectively. By anchoring national projects to continental frameworks such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), the Commission ensures that infrastructure investments unlock regional value chains. Through sustained collaboration with Member States and financial institutions, the continent is transitioning structural blueprints into bankable realities. #TheAfricaWeBuild #AfricanUnion #Agenda2063 #SAIR2026 #InfrastructureFinance #Industrialisation

As I emphasised in Nairobi during Tokyo International Conference on African Development ten years ago, we must stop addressing our problems in isolation. If we resolve the strategic bottlenecks of ideological disorientation, weak states, fragmented markets, low value addition, underdeveloped infrastructure, and gaps in human resources, Africa will be unstoppable.

I thank H.E. William Ruto and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for organising the Africa We Build Summit. I am glad that the AFC are speaking my language, the language of revolution. Africa’s GDP is only about $3.6 trillion despite our vast land and population. Countries like China were once very poor but transformed themselves through discipline, clarity of purpose, and investment. Therefore, Africa’s problem is not money; it is ideological.

During the opening ceremony, H.E. Lerato Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, African Union Commission, delivered a welcome statement where she highlighted that, "Infrastructure systems should move beyond fragmentation and begin to operate as coherent, connected platforms that support production, trade and resilience.” This was the perfect segue into the Ministerial remarks delivered by, Hon. John Mbadi, Cabinet Secretary for The National Treasury and Economic Planning, Republic of Kenya, who similarly expressed that, “We are looking at a continent that will use its assets and not rely on others to optimize the use of those assets.” #AFC #TAWBS2026 @africa_finance

‘The Africa We Build’ - a panel designed for open conversation that dissects Africa’s industrial revolution needs three levers to succeed: the right policy environment to attract and retain capital, the industrial courage to build at scale, and the development capital architecture to turn projects into bankable investment assets. This panel conversation unpacked what each looks like in practice, and what happens when all three pull in tandem. We were honoured to hear insights from H.E. Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Aliko Dangote, GCON, Chairman & CEO, Dangote Group and Mr. Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). #TAWBS2026 #AFC

Africa’s infrastructure future cannot stop at borders. How do we move from national plans to truly regional thinking? Be part of the conversation shaping cross-border development: x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Tomorrow the inaugural Africa We Build Summit 2026, begins. From the Lobito Corridor to African minerals, #TAWBS2026 dives into the opportunities that will define the continent's industrial future. Real data. Expert panels. And a closing plenary that turns discussion into commitment. 📍 Nairobi | 23-24 April 2026 If you’re unable to join us in person, please be sure to stay tuned to our X and LinkedIn pages where we’ll be streaming live! #AfricaWeBuild #TAWBS2026 #AFC #AfricaInfrastructure

AU Commission Champions Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation in Nairobi The @_AfricanUnion is championing the integration of the continent at The Africa We Build Summit 2026. Hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation in partnership with the Government of Kenya, the summit convenes tomorrow in Nairobi to transition infrastructure from isolated assets into integrated productive systems. Delivering tomorrow's welcome statement alongside H.E. @WilliamsRuto , President of the Republic of Kenya, and @africa_finance President Samaila Zubairu, H.E. Commissioner @LDMataboge takes the stage to outline a decisive shift in how Africa approaches development. Her upcoming address champions the vital need for infrastructure to function as an integrated ecosystem. By highlighting continental frameworks like the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the Commissioner sets the stage for structuring bankable investments that drive true industrialisation and long-term economic resilience. #TheAfricaWeBuild #AfricanUnion #Agenda2063 #PIDA #InfrastructureAfrica #Industrialisation

27–30 April 2026 | Johannesburg, South Africa The @_AfricanUnion will convene the 5th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Transport and Energy. Theme: “The Africa We Build: Transport & Energy as Catalysts for Africa’s Prosperity.” Ministers and experts will advance Africa’s infrastructure, energy, and connectivity priorities under Agenda 2063. 📅 27–28 April: Experts 📅 30 April: Ministerial 🔗 au.int/en/newsevents/…

The discussions today were quite illuminating and strategic. We also took the opportunity to celebrate Ethiopian Airline’s 80 years of operation. A true African success story! #aviation #SATTM #agenda2063 @_AfricanUnion

@Sophie_Mokoena @KhayaJames @_AfricanUnion Thank you for informing stakeholders on this @Sophie_Mokoena

The AU has compiled a comprehensive document on this issue. Very interesting observations and recommendations. I hope the document will be presented at Spring meetings in Washington this week.@_AfricanUnion

Interconnected energy systems, supported by robust digital infrastructure offer one of most effective means to strengthen resilience and optimize resources, and reduce vulnerability to external shock