Africa Is Not Poor — AFC Day South Africa Reinforces a Continent Ready to Rise

On 21 November 2025, leaders from government, finance, infrastructure, and the private sector gathered in Johannesburg for AFC Day South Africa — a high-level event hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). The gathering brought together Africa’s most influential decision-makers to address one central question: How can Africa unlock its industrialisation, competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth through bold, collaborative action?

The AFC, now operating in over 40 African countries, emphasised its vision of accelerating infrastructure development by mobilising patient capital, enabling manufacturing, and strengthening regional trade. The message was clear: Africa has the resources, the talent, and the market — what it needs now is integration and coordinated action.

Representing Vutomi Energy, CEO Timothy Simon Whati was among the invited guests engaging in the dynamic conversations and strategic sessions.

Key Insights From the Day

One of the most powerful confirmations shared by AFC leadership and industry speakers was that “Africa is not poor — it is underutilised.”This theme echoed through discussions on energy, logistics, mining, financing, and trade.

For Mr Whati, the takeaway was simple yet profound:

Africa’s future depends on Africans solving African problems — together.

He emphasised that the continent cannot continue to operate in siloed markets or rely heavily on imported solutions. If Africa strengthens intercontinental trade and builds its own infrastructure ecosystems, it can shield itself from global volatility, trade barriers, and tariff dependency.

A Continental Call to Action

Speakers highlighted that:

• Africa holds 30% of the world’s minerals,

• is home to 1.4 billion people,

• and has one of the fastest-growing youth populations globally.

Yet the absence of unified infrastructure — from energy to transport — limits the continent’s ability to fully industrialise.

AFC Day reinforced the urgency of:

• Co-investing in pan-African infrastructure,

• Deepening trade under African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),

• Mobilising blended finance, and

• Accelerating clean energy to power industrial hubs.

These are all critical levers for economic sovereignty and long-term competitiveness.

Vutomi Energy’s Perspective

As a developer building future-focused energy infrastructure across Southern Africa, Vutomi Energy shares AFC’s vision of an Africa that:

• Trades with itself,

• Powers itself, and

• Creates inclusive economic value through local expertise.

For Mr Whati, the event affirmed that Africa’s transformation is not a distant dream — it is a responsibility, one that requires shared effort, innovation, and commitment from public and private actors.

The Time Is Now

AFC Day South Africa reminded all attendees that Africa’s potential is not hypothetical — it is real, measurable, and waiting to be unlocked.But unlocking it requires intentional action: financing together, building together, and trading together.

As Mr Whati reflected:

“Africa’s rise depends on collaboration. If we integrate now, we protect ourselves later. The time to move is now.”