Anyaso urges global financial institutions to rethink capital access for Africa

…Calls for shift from ‘Rule of Law’ to ‘Rule of Justice’ in global finance

Chima Anyaso, Nigerian entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, has called on global financial institutions, policymakers, and development stakeholders to rethink how capital is allocated to African countries, arguing that the current global financial architecture often penalises the continent despite its vast economic potential and strong repayment record.

Speaking at the University of Derby, United Kingdom, in a keynote address titled ‘From Rule of Law to Rule of Justice: Reimagining Global Finance for Africa’s Rise,’ Anyaso challenged long-standing assumptions that continue to shape investment decisions, borrowing costs, and risk assessments across Africa.

Addressing an audience of academics, postgraduate scholars, legal professionals, members of the African diaspora, and future policymakers, Anyaso drew from his personal entrepreneurial journey to illustrate the transformative power of capital access.

He recounted how a $35-million trading facility extended by a Nigerian bank became the turning point for his business, enabling partnerships with some of the world’s leading commodity traders and energy companies. According to him, the experience reinforced a simple but powerful lesson: the difference between struggle and scale is often not talent or ambition, but access to capital.

“Africa is not short of ideas, talent, ambition, or resources,” Anyaso said.

“What Africa has often lacked is fair access to the scale of capital needed to unlock its full potential.”
Throughout the address, he questioned whether global financial rules are genuinely delivering equitable outcomes, noting that many African nations continue to face some of the highest borrowing costs in the world despite maintaining credible repayment records and implementing significant economic reforms.
He highlighted the paradox of a continent that possesses more than six trillion dollars in untapped mineral wealth and provides many of the critical resources driving the global energy transition, yet remains disproportionately disadvantaged in accessing affordable finance.

Anyaso cited examples, including Zambia’s prolonged debt restructuring process, Ghana’s debt challenges despite years of reforms, and the wave of credit-rating downgrades experienced by African countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued that these examples demonstrate how perceptions of risk often outweigh objective assessments of economic realities.

According to him, Africa’s development challenge is not simply about economics but about justice.

“The rule of law asks whether the rules were followed. The rule of justice asks whether those rules are producing fair outcomes,” he stated, urging global institutions to ensure that financial systems serve the broader goals of fairness, development, and shared prosperity.

Anyaso further called for equal access to capital, evidence-based risk assessments, fairer interest rates, and financial policies that support growth rather than perpetuate dependency.

Addressing African scholars and members of the diaspora, he encouraged them to challenge outdated assumptions, interrogate risk models that fail to reflect reality, and use their influence to advocate for reforms that create a more equitable global financial system.

He emphasised that Africa does not seek charity or sympathy but fairness.

“Africa needs access to capital on terms that reflect reality rather than perception. If the world truly wants shared prosperity and sustainable development, then we must ensure that our financial systems consistently deliver justice,” he said.

The keynote has been widely praised by attendees for bringing together perspectives from law, finance, development, and social justice into a compelling argument for a more inclusive global economic order.

Anyaso is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and advocate for inclusive economic development. Through his business and philanthropic initiatives, he has championed youth empowerment, enterprise development, education, and policies that promote sustainable growth across Africa.