timbuktoo Africa 45d ago

On Friday morning, in the Libreville Lounge of the Kigali Convention Centre, we asked this question. One hundred of Africa's most influential capital allocators sat together and confronted a number they had all known but rarely named in the same room: less than 1% of global venture capital reaching a continent with eleven of the world's fifteen fastest-growing economies. What followed was not just a commentary, but a commitment. The session was chaired by Farid Fezoua, Global Director for Disruptive Technologies at IFC World Bank Group, who opened with the most clarifying line of the morning: "Africa's development challenge is not the shortage of capital. It's where the capital sits." Moderated by Sinazo Sibisi, Chief Investment Officer of timbuktoo, the conversation drew Hon. Dr. Bosun Tijani (Nigeria Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy), H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (UAE Minister of Foreign Trade) and Oluranti Doherty (Managing Director, Export Development, Afreximbank) into a structured, outcome-oriented dialogue. Madam Doherty named the number that reset every conversation in the room: $5 trillion in domestic funding available on the continent - and not reaching Africa's most investable innovation companies. Minister Tijani named the challenge that most needed naming: "If Nigeria doesn't invest, someone else will come and invest in that critical infrastructure - and it will be owned by someone else." Minister Al Zeyoudi said what most international investors have not yet said publicly: "No one can do better in your market more than your own people." Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of ABAN, closed with the most direct call to action of the session: "A commitment of $5 million is a better signal to the market and more powerful than $50 million promised in the next two years. Be a first mover." And Natalie Jabangwe, CEO of timbuktoo, closed with the ask: $1 billion in capital. 300+ investor-ready founders. 10 hubs. The infrastructure is built. The pipeline is live. What is needed now is the capital to move. The room has spoken. Now the work begins. If you were in the room and want to explore investment structures, co-investment vehicles, or partnership opportunities, reply to this post or reach the team directly: tmbk.to/Kigali #AfricaCEOForum2026 #timbuktoo #UNDP #DomesticCapital #AfricanInnovation #PowerBreakfast #Kigali #1BillionForAfrica