President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed Nigeria’s call for a global system that treats Africa fairly, urging G20 leaders and international partners to ensure the continent becomes a place of value creation, innovation, and dignified work rather than a continuous supplier of raw materials. He stressed that Africa must no longer remain at the lowest end of the global value chain, especially in the extraction and trade of critical minerals that power many modern industries.
Speaking at the Third Session of the 2025 Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in South Africa, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Africa’s natural resources present a major opportunity for transformation, but only if managed with fairness and accountability. He emphasised that the mere possession of critical minerals does not guarantee prosperity for any nation unless the systems around extraction and trade are governed by transparency and equitable practices.
According to him, “Nigeria calls for a global framework that promotes value addition at the source, supports local beneficiation, and ensures that communities hosting these resources are not left behind.” He added that the issue goes beyond economic figures and reflects the moral character of the global future being built. The President stressed that the responsible use of critical minerals must bring shared progress, especially for the communities who live closest to these resources.
Tinubu described the global green and digital transitions as opportunities that must remain people-centred. He stated that decent work is the foundation of fair and sustainable development because it ensures people have the chance to grow, contribute, and benefit from prosperity. He explained that Nigeria, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, is preparing its young population for the future by investing in digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and vocational skills to make them globally competitive.
He called on the G20 to deepen collaboration on technology transfer, capacity development, and investments that place human dignity above profit. Tinubu urged global partners to support policies and frameworks that help African countries expand local industries, move up the value chain, and create better-quality jobs.
The President also addressed the rising global influence of artificial intelligence, noting that AI has immense potential to speed up development across the world. However, he warned that the benefits will not be felt equally unless global standards are created to guide its use. He said Nigeria supports the development of ethical standards for artificial intelligence that guarantee safety, transparency, and equity.
According to him, “We must ensure that AI becomes a tool of empowerment, not exclusion; of job creation, not displacement.” He called for strong partnerships between developed and developing countries, between private and public sectors, and between innovation and inclusion to ensure that AI works for everyone. Tinubu added that the G20 must address systemic bias and promote ongoing dialogue to make sure the benefits of AI are shared fairly and that the risks are managed responsibly.
The Nigerian leader also called for the G20 to take seriously its responsibility to shape an economy that uplifts people, not one that shuts them out. He said critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence share a common purpose in building a global system that values every human being. He urged world leaders to support a future where Africa becomes a hub of value creation and innovation rather than remaining a source of raw materials.
In a separate address at the summit, President Tinubu urged world leaders to reform the global financial system to make it more equitable and responsive to the needs of all nations, especially developing countries. He warned that many nations face recurring debt crises and structural barriers that limit economic growth and access to financial opportunities.
Represented again by Vice President Shettima, he said the current international financial architecture was built in a different era and no longer reflects the complexities of today’s world. He noted that this year’s summit theme, which focuses on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, development financing, trade, and debt challenges, captures the realities faced by developing nations.
Calling for fairness, Tinubu said, “Only a more equitable and more responsive system can manage global financial flows with fairness, address recurring debt crises with sincerity and meet the needs of all nations, especially those in the Global South who have too often stood at the margins of global opportunity.” He explained that Africa cannot rise on aspirations alone and needs stronger support to tackle long-standing challenges, including limited access to sustainable financing for development projects.
He observed that many economies in the developing world are weighed down by rising debt burdens, which push them back into cycles of vulnerability and create global risks. Tinubu urged the G20 to place debt sustainability and responsible mineral utilisation at the centre of its agenda for global development.
He said the G20 Leaders’ Declaration must commit to policies that drive sustainable growth, expand financial inclusion, and address emerging global risks. He stressed that Africa is calling for genuine partnership, fairness, and long-term collaboration as it works toward a future defined by innovation, opportunity, and dignity for its people.
