Professor Yemi Osinbajo—former Vice President of Nigeria,
As Africa faces a pivotal moment in its development journey, where traditional aid is increasingly uncertain and local aspirations grow louder, the 6th African Philanthropy Conference in Cairo arrives with a bold and timely theme: “Sustainable Financing for Development in the Majority World.”
Among the most anticipated keynote speakers is Professor Yemi Osinbajo—former Vice President of Nigeria, senior advocate, and architect of some of the continent’s most ambitious public-sector social investment programs.
Osinbajo’s invitation to address the conference is deliberate. He represents the intersection of governance, justice, and scalable innovation—a statesman who has shown that homegrown solutions can deliver measurable results.
During his tenure as Nigeria’s Vice President (2015–2023), he championed the National Social Investment Programmes, pioneering initiatives in microcredit, school feeding, and cash transfers that reached millions across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
These interventions were more than welfare schemes; they were models of how domestic public financing can serve as the foundation for inclusive development.
They also demonstrated what is possible when governance meets community insight and political will.
Osinbajo’s understanding of systemic reform, state capability, and sustainable policy implementation makes him uniquely positioned to reflect on this year’s central question: how can Africa finance its future on its terms?
The theme of sustainable financing calls for more than technical solutions. It demands vision, coordination, and trust.
Osinbajo has long bridged these divides—between state and citizen, between policy and practice, and between economic theory and human need.
As chair of Nigeria’s National Economic Council, he helped align development goals across 36 states while responding to real-time crises like COVID-19 with an ambitious Economic Sustainability Plan that sought to protect livelihoods and stimulate grassroots enterprise.
At a time when philanthropic actors are exploring models beyond traditional grantmaking—including ESG frameworks, blended finance, and community-based funds—Osinbajo is expected to challenge the sector to think bolder.
He brings the credibility of someone who has balanced political realities with ethical ambition and who understands that African-led financing must be both pragmatic and principled.
He is also likely to emphasize the importance of long-term investments in people—particularly in health, education, and digital inclusion—as critical foundations for a resilient economy.
His post-vice-presidency initiative, Future Perspectives, reflects his ongoing commitment to ethical leadership, youth empowerment, and governance innovation.
Through it, he has convened policy thinkers, emerging leaders, and development professionals to debate and shape Africa’s next development chapter.
In Cairo, his keynote will likely call on philanthropy to co-create enabling environments: through improved regulatory frameworks, enhanced civic trust, and a renewed commitment to institutional strengthening.
One of Osinbajo’s most compelling contributions to the conference will be his insight into how governments and philanthropic actors can collaborate more effectively.
He is well aware of the bureaucratic bottlenecks and accountability challenges that sometimes hinder donor confidence.
But rather than avoiding these issues, he is expected to speak candidly about them and propose actionable strategies to build trust between sectors.
These may include establishing transparent public finance mechanisms, leveraging digital tools to track impact, and supporting local capacity to manage funds efficiently.
He may also highlight the role of Africa’s diaspora communities—not just as remitters of cash, but as architects of innovation and capital formation.
With the right frameworks, diaspora engagement can evolve from personal transfers to structured investment in education, healthcare, and social infrastructure.
Osinbajo’s broad networks and diplomatic experience could provide insights on how to harmonize cross-border finance with domestic development priorities.
Equally important will be his reflections on the moral underpinnings of giving.
As a long-time advocate of ethical governance and social justice, Osinbajo understands that money alone cannot transform societies. Values matter. Accountability matters.
And for philanthropy to be transformative, it must resist the temptation to impose models and instead listen, adapt, and invest in what already works at the local level.
Osinbajo’s appearance at the 6th African Philanthropy Conference is more than symbolic.
It signals a maturing sector that understands sustainable finance requires more than money—it requires courage, coordination, and continental leadership.
Few figures embody that synthesis as compellingly as Yemi Osinbajo. His keynote is expected to leave the audience with not just ideas, but with questions: What does African self-reliance look like in practice?
How do we shift power in financing without replicating old hierarchies? And what does it truly mean to finance the future we want?
In a world where the Majority World is too often treated as the development periphery, Osinbajo is a voice reminding us that Africa’s future will not be donated—it will be designed, led, and financed by Africans themselves.
His message is likely to resonate long after the conference lights dim in Cairo.
Because the conversation about sustainable financing is, ultimately, a conversation about responsibility—who holds it, who shares it, and who dares to lead.
