Online Reporter
Kudzanai Sharara, Algiers Algeria
Africa must take control of its own infrastructure development, according to Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank , and Dr. Anthony Ebo Kyereboah-Coleman, a leading expert on the continent’s construction market.
Speaking at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair 2025, they highlighted the significant infrastructure gap and called for a deliberate shift towards empowering African contractors to fill it.
Africa’s infrastructure demand is driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and economic development, yet the continent faces a huge deficit. While Africa annually spends an estimated $90 billion on infrastructure, the vast majority of this capital flows to foreign firms. Mrs Awani stated that this dominance by overseas contractors limits the development of regional value chains and constrains Africa’s full participation in the global economy.
“The future of Africa’s development cannot be outsourced,” she said. “It has to be designed, engineered, and built by Africans.”
A study conducted by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) identified key reasons for the minimal participation of African contractors. Dr. Kyereboah-Coleman, who presented the findings, revealed that African firms face a number of challenges:
He said African contractors often lack the necessary expertise in procurement, engineering, and construction, which is reflected in their inability to prepare competitive bids.
Dr Coleman said access to finance and guarantees remains a significant constraint, limiting their ability to secure and execute large-scale projects.
Many firms, he said, are unaware of available contracts and tender opportunities.
Conversely, government agencies cited similar concerns, noting that African contractors often lack the requisite capacity and that project funders sometimes include clauses that effectively exclude local firms.
In response to these findings, Afreximbank has launched the Inter-African EPC Contract Promotion Initiative. This programme aims to position African contractors at the centre of the continent’s infrastructure development by providing a mix of financing, technical assistance, and matchmaking.
Mrs Awani confirmed that over the past five years, the bank has facilitated more than $12, 1 billion in contracts for African engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms. She cited landmark projects such as the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant in Tanzania and the Kano-Maradi railway line linking Nigeria and Niger as prime examples of successful African-led ventures.
The bank is also establishing an African-backed Industry Portal, a digital platform designed to centralise infrastructure opportunities and provide African firms with access to tenders, training, and matchmaking services with financiers.
“African-owned giants such as Hassan Allam and El Sewedy Electric in Egypt, Dangote in Nigeria, and others are emerging as regional champions,” Mrs Awani said, proving that African firms possess the skills and expertise to deliver world-class infrastructure.
By building capacity and creating a deliberate network of African EPCs, the initiative seeks to ensure that the continent’s future is built by its own hands.
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