Rwanda Development Board

Kigali didn’t just discuss growth. Two days at the @africaceoforum focused on deals, partnerships, and ideas around scaling across Africa. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making #ACF2026 impactful.

#Africa’s sports economy is entering a new era, one where the conversation is no longer only about talent, but about ownership, value creation, and long-term economic impact. On Friday, at the @africaceoforum in Kigali, I had the privilege of joining H.E. @nmukazayire and Ethiopis Tafara for a timely discussion on what it will take to transform Africa’s sports momentum into a true wealth-creation engine for the continent. Africa is no longer just a talent pipeline for global sports, the next chapter is about ownership: of platforms, infrastructure, media rights, data, brands, and the economic value created across the ecosystem. The opportunity is immense. The mission now is to build sustainable sports businesses capable of creating jobs, attracting investment, empowering youth, and ensuring that more of the value generated by African sport remains on the continent. The future of African sport is not only about competition. It is about #EconomicTransformation. @theBAL

This week, RDB Chief Tourism Officer Irène Murerwa, together with @RwandaInBrazil Ambassador @Lawrence_Manzi, led a delegation of Rwandan tour operators and travel agents for the first #VisitRwanda roadshows across the Brazilian cities of São Paulo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro, engaging the Brazilian travel trade and media while highlighting Rwanda’s diverse tourism experiences. The roadshows focused on establishing long term partnerships and introducing curated travel experiences tailored for the Brazilian and wider South American market.

Delighted to moderate “Africa’s Creative Century: Capital, Ownership and the Next Frontier” at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali. One message came through clearly. Africa’s creative future is not only about talent. It is about ownership. If value, intellectual property and capital stay on the continent, the next African success stories will not just be celebrated globally. They will be built sustainably at home.

🙏 The curtain has fallen on the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit 2026, and what unfolded over these two days in Kigali, on 14 and 15 May, will continue to shape conversations across the continent and well beyond it for months to come. 🌍 To the Heads of State, ministers, CEOs, investors, speakers, moderators and delegates who took to our stages and filled our rooms, thank you. From megaprojects to pan-African ownership, from productivity to the future of African capital, you turned three thematic axes and eight value chains into living debates, and gave Kigali the kind of substance that defines an edition. 🤝 To our partners, whose conviction makes everything we do possible, our founder Jeune Afrique Media Group, our host country Rwanda and the @RDBrwanda , our co-host the @IFCAfrica, our main partner @SchneiderElec, and every diamond, platinum, gold, institutional, industry, knowledge and media partner whose name graced our screens, your trust is not transactional, it is foundational, and we carry it with the seriousness it deserves. 🏛️ To the @CntrKigali, the @RadissonKigali, @CityofKigali, and the Rwandan teams who welcomed two thousand delegates with a precision and warmth that only this city seems able to combine, and to the journalists who covered every panel, every quote and every corridor conversation, thank you for turning logistics into hospitality and reporting into a record. 📺 To the tens of thousands of viewers who followed us live, from offices, airports, factories and farms across the continent and the diaspora, your presence behind the screens is part of what gives this Forum its weight, because the conversation is not confined to the room, it belongs to you too. 💬 So we hand the next chapter back to you. What landed? What stayed with you? Which idea, which moment, which speaker do you want to carry into the year ahead? Drop your reflections in the comments, we are reading every one. 📍Kigali, 14–15 May 2026. Until next year. #ACF2026 #AfricaCEOForum

Rencontre stratégique entre l’Agence Guinéenne de Développement (GDB) et le @RDBrwanda (RDB) en marge de l’Africa CEO Forum . Cet échange institutionnel a permis un partage d’expériences sur la promotion des investissements dans une dynamique de coopération Sud-Sud.

“We have incredible talent on this continent. The best scientists, the best engineers, the best doctors, the best athletes, the best in the world. Now we have to work better together, believe in ourselves, and make Africa the best.” — Masai Ujiri, Team President and Alternate Governor of the Dallas Mavericks; Co-Founder of Zaria Group and @GiantsOfAfrica, at the session titled “Conversation with | An African Capital Field” during the @africaceoforum in Kigali. #ACF2026

“Africa has extraordinary talent in music, sports, and culture, but we must invest more deliberately in the education and institutions that support these industries. From music schools to sports medicine and sports business education, Africa has an opportunity to build ecosystems that allow its talent to grow, create value locally, and shape the future of global creative and sports industries.” — Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of @IFC_org, at the session titled “Conversation with | An African Capital Field” during the @africaceoforum in Kigali. #ACF2026

Watch @RwandaYouthArts Minister of State @XandrineUmutoni discuss policy, infrastructure, intellectual property, and human capital in shaping Africa’s creative economy at the @africaceoforum. #ACF2026

“Creative industries are the sectors that already have the attention of young people, and because of that, they can become powerful catalysts for unlocking the potential of Africa’s youth.” — Mbithi Masya, Filmmaker and Co-founder of NBO Film Festival, at the panel session titled “Africa’s Creative Century: Capital, Ownership and the Next Frontier” during the @africaceoforum in Kigali. #ACF2026

“Supporting creatives to maintain ownership of their intellectual property is critical if we want more value to remain on the continent and for Africa’s creative economy to grow sustainably.” — Farid Fezoua, Director of Equity, Funds, and Venture Capital at @IFC_org, at the panel session titled “Africa’s Creative Century: Capital, Ownership and the Next Frontier” during the @africaceoforum in Kigali. #ACF2026

“One of the most important areas is intellectual property protection because creatives must be able to own and benefit from what they produce. When creators understand and protect ownership of their work, they are able to generate wealth, sustain themselves, and build opportunities for future generations.” — @RwandaYouthArts Minister of State @XandrineUmutoni at the panel session titled “Africa’s Creative Century: Capital, Ownership and the Next Frontier” during the @africaceoforum in Kigali. #ACF2026

Africa’s sports economy is projected to reach $20B by 2035 — and investors should be paying attention. I just wrapped an incredible conversation with @EleniGiokos and Masai Ujiri, co-founder of @GiantsOfAfrica, on why arenas, courts, and concert venues are as vital to Africa’s future as roads and power infrastructure. Securing broadcast and merchandising rights, building transparent sponsorship markets, leveraging audience data, and developing multi-use arenas that generate year-round revenue will be critical to unlocking #Africa’s sports and entertainment potential. The sports value chain can become a true game-changer for the continent. Let’s build it. #CreativeEconomy #IFCinAfrica #ACF2026

Today, RDB Deputy CEO @JulianaMuganza, together with @RCBrwanda CEO @JanetKaremera and Aviation, Travel and Logistics Holding CEO @sasjules, met with a delegation from @lufthansa Group led by Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of @FlyingBrussels, to discuss areas of collaboration within the aviation ecosystem.

From Nollywood to Afrobeats to fashion, Africa’s creative output is shaping global culture. How can the industry create more jobs, stronger SMEs & lasting local value. A strong panel at #ACF2026 w/ Minister @XandrineUmutoni, @FFezoua, @GALXBOY, @gina_din, @mbithi & @TEGAMAVIN.

Earlier today, on the sidelines of the @africaceoforum, RDB CEO @afrika_jean signed an MoU with Yango Africa CEO and Global Chief Business Officer Adeniyi Adebayo to explore collaboration in Rwanda’s digital mobility sector. The engagement will focus on urban mobility and technology-enabled transport solutions, in line with Rwanda’s ambition to advance digital innovation and support efficient, inclusive, and modern mobility services.

"We started at the grassroots, and now we have established a pathway from grassroots to the elite. Today, we have the incredible opportunity to talk about sports as a business." — @amadougallofall, President of the Basketball Africa League @theBAL, at the session titled “The African Arena: Who Will Own Africa’s Sports Boom?” during the @africaceoforum in Kigali. #ACF2026

“Today, through @theBAL we are beginning to see sports becoming a true economic growth engine for Africa. The league has attracted institutional investors, global technology companies, international brands, and new commercial partners. We are also seeing strong fan engagement and growing global interest in African sports content.” — @amadougallofall, President of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), at the session titled “The African Arena: Who Will Own Africa’s Sports Boom?” during the @africaceoforum in Kigali. #ACF2026