Former Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has stated that Africa is already playing a significant role in shaping the new world order. He argues that the continent must recognize its progress and use its growing influence with confidence and purpose. Osinbajo's remarks come at a time when Africa is making real progress, at a scale and speed that is often underestimated.
Osinbajo reflected on his time as a young law student at the University of Lagos when Nigerian head of state General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated. Mohammed had said that Africa had come of age and should no longer take orders from external powers. Osinbajo believes that this statement was not only a call to action but also a demonstration of foresight. He has spent decades in public service, including as Vice President, and has learned how difficult it is to move policy into action.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a prime example of Africa's progress. The agreement has created a market of over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately $3.4 trillion. Fifty countries have deposited their instruments of ratification, and trading has begun. The early results are promising, with Kenyan-made vehicle batteries reaching Ghana under AfCFTA and South Africa's exports under the agreement rising from 485 million rand to 1.386 billion rand in the first seven months of 2025.
Intra-African trade is also on the rise, with 41% of Africa's machinery exports being traded within the continent, alongside 35% of biopharmaceutical goods and 30% of industrial chemicals. These are the foundations of industrial economies, circulating within Africa itself. The structural story is also striking, with Africa holding around 30% of the world's critical mineral reserves and approximately 60% of its best solar resources.
By 2050, roughly one in four people of working age globally is projected to be African. This demographic shift is driving a fundamental change in Africa's weight in the global system, and the world has taken notice. Capitals that once paid only intermittent attention are deepening engagement across the continent, looking for partnerships in trade, energy, technology, and infrastructure.
Africa is being courted, and the more interesting story is how Africa is responding. Governments across the continent are becoming more deliberate and strategic in their engagements. Negotiations are tougher, terms are scrutinized more carefully, and national interests are more clearly defined. Africa is no longer waiting to be offered a seat at the table; it is sitting down at it on its own terms.
Institutions such as Afreximbank are building the financial architecture to support Africa's growing influence. The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System enables cross-border payments in African currencies and reduces reliance on third currencies. African entrepreneurs are building companies of global scale, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, African institutions and their partners developed and deployed digital systems to verify test results and vaccination certificates across borders.
Key points
- Africa is shaping the new world order through trade, innovation, and stronger institutions.
