- By Halimah Olamide
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital, on Friday to participate in the 2024 Special World Economic Forum on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development.
This begins the second leg of his two-nation tour following his engagements in The Hague, Netherlands, since Wednesday.
Over 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia from more than 90 countries are expected to attend the high-level forum in Riyadh, which is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Talks would centre around actions taken since the inaugural Growth Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2023.
“Tinubu and his entourage will use the opportunity of the gathering to discuss his renewed hope agenda for the country,” the President’s spokesperson, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, revealed in a statement he signed last Monday.
In Riyadh, the leaders are expected to address pressing global challenges across three main themes: revitalising global collaboration, fostering inclusive growth and catalysing action on energy for development.
According to the SWEF concept note, the event serves as a platform to “bridge the growing North-South divide exacerbated by emerging economic policies, the energy transition and geopolitical shocks.”
The two-day visit is Tinubu’s second in five months to the Gulf nation.
Saudi Arabia has become his 19th foreign destination since assuming office 11 months ago.
So far, he has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; Doha, Qatar and The Hague, The Netherlands.