Managing Director of the National Investment Bank PLC (NIB), Chief Dr. Doli-Wura Awushi Abdul-Malik Zakaria, has endorsed the inaugural Regal Influence Summit as a transformative force poised to convert Pan-African aspirations into tangible progress.
In an exclusive statement, Dr. Zakaria, a distinguished public-sector leader and Pan-African advocate, positioned the summit as a critical juncture for the continent.
He emphasized its role in shifting continental collaboration from rhetoric to actionable strategy in finance, trade, and innovation.
“Africa possesses all the resources, human, natural, and intellectual, but unity remains our challenge,” Zakaria stated.
“This summit is a practical vehicle for bringing us together, fostering the collaboration needed to harness our collective wealth for the common good.”
He highlighted the summit’s focus on integrating Africa’s financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and policymakers as key to unlocking growth.
Stronger cross-border coordination, he argued, would reduce borrowing costs, boost intra-African trade, and mobilize capital for scalable investments.
“Financial channels are the simplest conduit for cross-border business,” Zakaria noted. “With proper coordination, capital can flow seamlessly from Nigeria to Ghana and beyond, fueling development where it is most effective.”
Drawing on over two decades of public service and his continental role as former Chairperson of the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum, Zakaria linked economic progress to leadership and stability.
He asserted that the summit’s inclusive dialogue could help address root causes of conflict, such as leadership gaps and communal tensions.
“We are one people with shared histories,” he said. “Sustainable progress demands that political leaders, traditional rulers, and faith leaders work in concert.”
The NIB MD also praised the summit’s emphasis on youth engagement, calling networking the “essential social capital of the 21st century.”
He described the platform as a vital opportunity for young professionals, particularly Gen Z, to showcase innovation and assume leadership in shaping Africa’s future.
While acknowledging the historical implementation challenges of Pan-African initiatives, Zakaria called for patience, education, and a foundation in the principle of Ubuntu, mutual respect and shared humanity.
“No solid building is erected overnight,” he remarked. “We must embed these ideals in our curricula and institutions.”
Concluding with a forward-looking note, Zakaria described the summit as a long-overdue catalyst for continental advancement.
“Change is not perfection; it is progress,” he affirmed. “This summit represents decisive progress. I am confident it will be a game-changer, elevating Africa to a new level where pride in our collective identity is universal.”
