In a significant move to deepen Africa’s economic integration, Nigeria and South Africa reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trade, investment, and industrial growth at a high-level Ministerial Business Roundtable in Lagos on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
The event, hosted by the South African High Commission at the Rooftop Event Centre, MTN Plaza, Ikoyi, brought together top government officials, diplomats, and business leaders to turn bilateral agreements into tangible action.
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, described Lagos as a “gateway for investment in West Africa” and stressed that the state’s investments in infrastructure and innovation are central to economic growth.
“This meeting is not just about discussion. It’s about transforming shared ideas into real progress,” he said.
Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, emphasised the urgency of moving from dialogue to development.
“We are now in the implementation phase. Our goal is to ensure that the progress we talk about translates into benefits for our people,” she said.
She noted that joint ministerial committees were already working to remove barriers to trade and investment.
A high-powered panel discussion themed “Africa’s Twin Engines: How Nigeria–South Africa Relations Can Position Africa as a Global Middle Power” featured Dr. Hamzat, Moraka, Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ije Jidenma, Chairperson of the Institute of Directors Nigeria, and business executive Dr. Tunde Ayeye. Participants underscored partnerships between governments and the private sector as crucial to addressing poverty, fostering industrialization, and driving innovation.
Since diplomatic ties were established in 1994, Nigeria and South Africa have been pillars of Africa’s political and economic landscape.
The Bi-National Commission (BNC), launched in 1999, has served as a structured platform for collaboration in trade, energy, technology, and security.
At the 11th BNC meeting in Cape Town in 2024, the two nations recommitted to industrialisation, renewable energy, and youth employment goals that the Lagos roundtable sought to operationalise.
The roundtable concluded with a unified call to action: remove trade barriers, promote joint ventures, and cultivate innovation-driven industries to secure sustainable growth.
Both governments pledged continued collaboration, positioning the Nigeria–South Africa partnership as a key driver of Africa’s collective economic advancement.
