As part of its strategy to strengthen international trade and investment partnerships, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) convened an Economic Diplomacy Dialogue with the diplomatic community on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the Rotunda Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The high-level meeting was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, serving as a strategic platform to connect the Nigerian private sector with foreign missions, international development partners, and potential investors.
NACCIMA’S MESSAGE: PRIVATE SECTOR AT THE HEART OF TRANSFORMATION
In his keynote address, NACCIMA National President Jani Ibrahim, OON, mni, emphasized that Nigeria’s economic ambitions are fully attainable with the right blend of local initiative and international support.
We are not just planning for growth — we are building an economy that can compete globally. The private sector is ready, and our diaspora is key to this transformation, he declared.
He spotlighted the need for:
Domestic value chain development
Export-led industrialization under AfCFTA
Strategic diaspora engagement and partnerships with foreign investors
INSIGHTFUL PRESENTATION BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF NACCIMA
Engr. Olusola Obadimu, DG, NACCIMA, delivered a data-rich, results-focused presentation titled: ‘Partnering for Nigeria’s Economic Transformation’.
Key highlights included:
-NACCIMA’s expansive network spanning geo-business zones and bilateral chambers
-Strategic objectives built around TEAMs (Trade, Engagement, Advocacy, Membership, Services)
-Concrete collaboration opportunities in agro-processing, textiles, digital innovation, and MSME development
-Case studies of recent engagements with the Nigerian Vice President, UNIDO, and other global partners
We are not just open for business—we are organized for it, she emphasized, calling on diplomats and development partners to take advantage of the structures already in place for impactful cooperation.
POLICY ALIGNMENT AND DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON underscored the alignment of the dialogue with Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Agenda—Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography. H.E. Tuggar stressed the significance of the event and reaffirmed NACCIMA’s central role in the Tinubu administration’s international economic policy.
He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to:
-Strategic autonomy in foreign relations
-Unlocking value chains in key sectors: garments, agriculture, mining, digital infrastructure
-Creating jobs through targeted investments and supply chain development.
Economic diplomacy is the future of our foreign policy, he affirmed.
Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR represented by Ms. Patience Okala, Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments. The Minister commended NACCIMA for the initiative and emphasized government’s ongoing reforms to improve the ease of doing business, boost MSMEs, and attract foreign capital.
Amb. Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahima, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, was represented by Mr. Houssam Diab, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon. He welcomed the opportunity to collaborate and acknowledged the centrality of public-private partnerships in achieving shared development outcomes. He assured NACCIMA of the support of the diplomatic community.
COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT: INTERACTIVE SESSION
The interactive session featured dynamic exchanges between members of the diplomatic corps and Nigerian business leaders. Topics included:
-Bilateral trade frameworks
-Investment facilitation reforms
-Infrastructure development partnerships
-Trade corridors under AfCFTA
CLOSING AND FORWARD STRATEGY
The Vote of Thanks, delivered by Chief (Dr.) Emi Membere-Otaji, 1st Deputy President of NACCIMA, set the tone for sustained engagement. He emphasized that this dialogue was not a one-off but the beginning of a structured relationship-building process between NACCIMA and the diplomatic community.
The session concluded with networking and B2B/B2D (business-to-diplomacy) conversations—an informal yet powerful avenue for laying the groundwork for future investments and trade partnerships.
IMPACT OUTCOMES AND NEXT STEPS
-Established a new pathway for structured economic diplomacy between -NACCIMA and foreign missions
-Generated interest from at least 15 diplomatic missions expressing intent for follow-up business engagement
-Positioned Nigeria’s private sector as a central player in regional and global trade ecosystems
-Strengthened government-private sector-diplomatic synergy towards shared prosperity
FROM DIALOGUE TO DEVELOPMENT
The NACCIMA Economic Diplomacy Dialogue 2025 was a bold step towards building a globally integrated Nigerian economy driven by private sector excellence and supported by international partnerships. As the association continues to engage development partners, embassies, and chambers worldwide, the mission is clear: turning conversations into capital and partnerships into prosperity.
NACCIMA, Abuja
30th July 2025
