Fayemi Urges Stronger African Sovereignty, Institutional Strength, and Next-Gen Leadership

Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has called for renewed commitment to African sovereignty, stronger state institutions, and deliberate investment in next-generation leadership to reposition the continent in a shifting global landscape.

Fayemi made the remarks at the Cape Town Conversation 2025, where he featured on a high-level panel titled “NextGen Africa: Africa’s Strategic Imperative.” The annual forum, convened by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, brought together leading policymakers, scholars, and development experts to examine Africa’s evolving geopolitical and economic outlook.

This year’s edition followed shortly after South Africa hosted the first-ever G20 Summit on African soil – a development Fayemi said added “a deeper sense of relevance and urgency” to the conversations on Africa’s global role.

Addressing the continent’s development trajectory, the former governor said Africa must leverage its demographic advantage, deepen institutional capacity, and build more resilient economies capable of withstanding global disruptions.

He noted that geopolitical tensions, climate shocks, and changing governance structures present both opportunities and serious risks.

Fayemi advocated African-driven innovation, energy transition, and value addition, insisting that development pathways must “strengthen sovereignty rather than widen dependency.”

He also underscored the importance of harnessing the continent’s youthful population as a “central pillar of long-term renewal.”

The session also featured final reflections from former South African President Thabo Mbeki, whom Fayemi described as “clear, direct, and firmly rooted in the continent’s history of struggle and global engagement.”

Mbeki warned that aspirations for a fairer global order would remain unrealistic unless African states first achieve internal coherence, articulate shared interests, and organise strategically to defend them.

He revisited themes of global inequality, the unfinished business of the SDGs, and lessons from NEPAD and the G8 Africa Action Plan – insights Fayemi said amounted to “a provocative call to action.”

Fayemi expressed optimism about the continent’s future, praising the depth of dialogue and shared resolve among participants.

He said sustained engagement among African leaders, thinkers, and institutions would help the continent confront its internal challenges while pushing for greater equity in the international system.

“As we look ahead to the next edition of the Cape Town Conversation,” Fayemi said, “the key question is how Africa can contribute meaningfully to building a just world while fortifying itself from within.”

Gbenga Sodeinde