LAGOS, Nigeria: Botswana’s former president Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi has called for greater African capacity to extract more value from the continent’s natural resources during a keynote address in Lagos.
Masisi, Botswana’s fifth president, delivered the keynote address at the 13th Anniversary Memorial Lecture for the late Nigerian statesman and scholar Dr Olusegun Agagu on Monday, September 14, 2026.
The lecture was held under the theme, “Africa’s Resources, Africa’s Prosperity: Capturing More of the Value We Create.”
Masisi said Botswana’s experience with diamonds offered lessons for African countries seeking to transform their natural resources into broader economic opportunities.
He also pointed to the importance of developing the skills, institutions and productive capacity required for Africa to participate more effectively in resource value chains.
A central reflection from the keynote was:
“𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 — 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿.”
Masisi explained the message in practical terms, saying African countries need to build the skills and capacity required today while making sure that previous agreements do not permanently constrain future opportunities.
The former president’s participation was announced by his office in Gaborone on September 11.
The Olusegun Agagu Lecture and Symposium Series was established as a continental platform to preserve and advance the legacy of Agagu, a former governor of Ondo State and scholar who died in 2013.
The annual forum brings together African and international leaders to discuss major questions around governance and development. Among its previous speakers was Botswana’s third president, the late Festus Gontebanye Mogae.
Masisi’s appearance at this year’s lecture placed Botswana’s economic experience within a wider African discussion about resource ownership, industrial development, economic integration and institutional governance.
His office described Masisi as an advocate of economic transformation and democratic governance in Africa, saying he would draw on Botswana’s developmental experience to discuss ways of expanding the continent’s economic capacity, strengthening regional integration and improving institutional governance.
The Olusegun Agagu Foundation provided diplomatic privileges and covered courtesies associated with Masisi’s visit to Nigeria.
Masisi also shared a lighter moment from his Nigerian visit, posting a photograph with Nigerian entertainer and activist Charly Boy with the caption, “Nigeria’s Charlie Boy meets Botswana’s Sissy Boy”.
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