Nigeria’s Paramount Ruler from the southwest, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has praised Africa’s growing global presence, describing it as a “new dawn” for shared prosperity.
Speaking after day one of the 2025 Astana International Forum in Kazakhstan, where he represented Nigeria, the monarch highlighted the powerful exchange of ideas uniting Africa with the world through trade, culture, innovation and diplomacy.
Delivering a keynote address on the potential between Africa and Central Asia, the Ooni declared that Africa is no longer waiting for a seat at the table but is building its own.
Speaking after day one of the 2025 Astana International Forum in Kazakhstan, where he represented Nigeria, the monarch highlighted the powerful exchange of ideas uniting Africa with the world through trade, culture, innovation and diplomacy.
— Voice of Nigeria (@voiceofnigeria) June 1, 2025
He urged African leaders and visionaries to seize emerging opportunities and drive the continent’s transformation on the global stage.
He said, “A New Dawn is Rising. From the Source of Africa to the Heart of Central Asia, history is unfolding.
“I arrived in Kazakhstan to represent not only Nigeria but also the hopes, potential, and power of a new Africa at the Astana International Forum 2025.
“As I stepped into this global gathering of world leaders, innovators, and changemakers, the message was clear: Africa is no longer waiting to be invited to the table; we are building our own, and the world is watching.
“Day 1 was a powerful exchange of ideas and purpose. The conversations have reinforced what I’ve always believed: when Africa and the world unite, through trade, innovation, culture, and diplomacy, we open new frontiers that can shift the axis of global power.
“I have the honour of delivering a keynote address on the boundless possibilities between Africa and Central Asia. We are entering an era where our shared prosperity is not just imaginable; it is actionable.
“Let this moment be a call to all visionaries, leaders, and children of the continent.
“The new Africa is here.”