President Bio Champions Value Addition and Investment at UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026
President Julius Maada Bio has called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s approach to its mineral resources, urging countries to process and transform their minerals on the continent rather than continuing to extract and export them in raw form.
President Bio made the call while participating in a fireside chat at UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026, where he became the first African Head of State to kick-start this year’s programme.
He emphasized that Africa’s vast mineral wealth must serve as a foundation for industrialisation, economic transformation, and inclusive development. According to the President, expanding mineral processing and manufacturing within Africa would promote value addition, strengthen national economies, and create meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for the continent’s growing youth population.
President Bio also called for increased investment in infrastructure across key sectors, stressing that improved infrastructure is essential to unlocking Africa’s productive potential and supporting sustainable economic growth.
“Africa must move beyond the extraction and export of raw materials. We must process and transform our minerals on the continent, while investing in the infrastructure needed to drive value addition, strengthen our economies, and create meaningful jobs and opportunities for our young people,” President Bio stated.
Following the fireside chat, President Bio witnessed the high-level opening ceremony of UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026, which brought together leaders of the United Nations, former African presidents, prominent African business leaders, and representatives of leading financial institutions.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf delivered powerful addresses during the opening ceremony, highlighting the importance of African leadership, global partnerships, and bold investments in the continent’s development.
The theme for this year’s UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA is “Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future.” The event is organised by the United Nations Global Compact and convened by the United Nations and the African Union.