Lumumba To African States: Stop Looking Outside for Investors, Empower Fellow Africans
04th August, 2026 | News
Lumumba Urges African Leaders to Prioritise Intra-African Investment, Ease Visa Restrictions
Renowned Pan-Africanist and Kenyan lawyer Prof. PLO Lumumba has called on African leaders to place greater confidence in fellow Africans as investors rather than relying heavily on foreign capital.
Speaking on Monday at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit in Asaba, Lumumba lamented what he described as the persistent undervaluation of Africa’s financial and intellectual capacity. He noted that many African governments continue to look to Europe, Asia and the Americas for investment opportunities while overlooking the enormous potential that exists within the continent.
According to him, Africans must begin to recognise one another as genuine investment partners capable of driving the continent’s economic transformation.
“We still believe our investors must come from Malaysia, Brazil or China. That should not be the case,” Lumumba said, stressing that Africans possess the resources needed to finance their own development.
He revealed that he and other Pan-African advocates have established the African Investment Movement, an initiative aimed at encouraging African leaders to harness local capital. The movement has already engaged leaders in six African countries, promoting the idea that individuals with relatively modest capital can collectively make significant investments across the continent.
Lumumba also urged future investment summits to attract broader African participation, expressing his desire to see investors from countries including Kenya, Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Morocco and Egypt collaborating on development projects across Africa.
He argued that when Africans demonstrate confidence in investing in their own economies, international partners from countries such as Brazil, China, Europe and the United States will engage with Africa on a more balanced and mutually beneficial basis.
The Pan-Africanist further called for the removal of visa restrictions among African nations, saying easier movement of people and capital would strengthen regional integration, boost trade and unlock greater economic opportunities across the continent.
According to Lumumba, Africa’s future prosperity depends on its willingness to trust its own people, invest in its own potential and deepen cooperation among African nations.