From Africa’s Source to Central Asia’s Heart: Ooni of Ife Champions a New Dawn at Astana Forum 2025

Astana, Kazakhstan – History is indeed unfolding as His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi – Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, arrived in Kazakhstan to represent not just Nigeria, but the burgeoning hopes, immense potential, and dynamic power of a new Africa at the prestigious Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025. The Forum, which officially kicked off yesterday, May 29th, and concludes today, May 30th, is a pivotal global gathering of world leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

The Ooni’s presence at this high-level summit, themed “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future,” sends an unequivocal message: Africa is no longer passively awaiting an invitation to the global table. Instead, as Ooni Ogunwusi emphatically stated, “we are building our own, and the world is watching.”

Day one of the Forum witnessed a powerful exchange of ideas and purpose, with His Imperial Majesty actively participating in conversations that reinforced his long-held conviction: “When Africa and the world unites—through trade, innovation, culture, and diplomacy—we open new frontiers that can shift the axis of global power.”

Today, the Ooni of Ife holds the distinct honour of delivering a keynote address that will undoubtedly illuminate the boundless possibilities for collaboration and mutual prosperity between Africa and Central Asia. This significant engagement underscores a critical shift towards an era where “our shared prosperity is not just imaginable—it is actionable.”

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The Astana International Forum serves as a vital platform for addressing global challenges, fostering multilateral cooperation, and promoting dialogue across various thematic areas including Foreign Policy and International Security, Energy and Climate Change, and Economy and Finance. The Ooni’s participation aligns perfectly with the forum’s mission to forge practical solutions through open dialogue and collective action.

For visionaries, leaders, and the youth of the continent, the Ooni’s mission in Kazakhstan is a resonant call to action. It signals the arrival of a “new Africa”—an Africa deeply “rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and defined by partnership.” This historic outreach from the source of Africa to the heart of Central Asia is a testament to a continent confidently asserting its place on the global stage, ready to forge new alliances and contribute significantly to a more interconnected and prosperous world.