Abuja: Africa is poised to become an economic superpower but its full potential hinges on making strategic choices about its trade partners and internal reforms, Jason Miller, former Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump says. Miller, a Communication Strategist, spoke during a conversation with Viswanathan Shankar, CEO of Gateway Partners, at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AMM2025) on Thursday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the AAM2025, with the theme, ‘Building The Future On Decades Of Resilience’, is from June 25 to June 28. Speaking to an audience of policymakers and financiers, Miller broke down U.S. evolving trade posture and its implications for the continent. He painted an ‘optimistic vision’ for U.S.-Africa trade relations, contrasting America’s approach with what he termed ‘debt diplomacy’ from other global players.
Miller said Africa’s rise is inevitable but cautioned that realising its potential hinged on strategic choices. ‘This is Africa’s century,’ Miller projected, suggesting that by 2050, Africa would surpass Europe as the world’s third-largest economic bloc, with Nigeria among the top 10 global economies. By 2100, he added, sub-Saharan Africa would host four of the world’s most populous nations, positioning the continent as an economic superpower. However, he warned that ‘If these opportunities aren’t seized strategically, Africa risks being taken advantage of again.’
Miller criticised decades of exploitative practices by outsiders, noting that they ‘took, took, took, leaving broken promises.’ According to him, U.S.’s engagement is built on strategic partnerships anchored in private capital, not debt traps, military occupations, or hollow rhetoric. He outlined key demands for nations seeking U.S. partnership, stressing the importance of demanding tangible value over empty deals and avoiding unsustainable debt disguised as aid.
He emphasised that partnerships should prioritise foreign direct investment in future-proof infrastructure like roads, ports, data centers, and clean energy. Miller highlighted Africa’s critical minerals and youthful workforce as crucial for dominating the Artificial Intelligence supply chain, a shift he likened to the Industrial Revolution.
Miller also stressed the importance of accelerating business climate reforms, including contract enforcement, currency stabilisation, and rooting out corruption, as essential measures for attracting U.S. pension funds and private capital. While commending Nigeria’s ‘gutsy’ currency reforms, he urged faster, broader action across the continent.
Additionally, Miller advised Africa to ‘choose allies wisely,’ drawing sharp contrasts between China’s record of ‘unregulated fishing, environmental disasters, and crippling debt’ and U.S. contributions such as PEPFAR’s HIV/AIDS support and security cooperation. He insisted that true friendship respects sovereignty and borders without exploitation.
Discussing U.S. policy, Miller addressed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in September, suggesting an uncertain future unless proactive renegotiation focused on reciprocity takes place. He defended Trump’s tariffs as tools for protecting strategic industries and forcing fairer trade terms and identified the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as a key catalyst for Africa, advocating for reforms to attract major institutional investors.
Offering candid advice for African leaders, Miller stressed the importance of preparation and urged them to engage with ‘specific asks and solutions, no photo-ops.’ He also encouraged persuading chief executive officers and investors, rather than just bureaucrats, to amplify Africa’s economic narrative globally.
Miller called for Africa’s potential to translate into ‘provable partnerships,’ advocating for renegotiating AGOA, fast-tracking business reforms, demanding infrastructure-for-minerals deals, and proactively engaging the DFC. He urged African leaders not to settle for lip service but to demand partnerships, stating that this is the path to Africa becoming powerful, wealthy, and great on its own terms.
Viswanathan Shankar, CEO of Gateway Partners, revealed Miller’s appointment as Senior Advisor to Gateway Partners, a role Miller pledged to use to ‘bring American capital to Africa’s future industries.’
