The Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), Rosie Glazebrook has canvassed deepened collaboration with the federal and state governments that would strengthen trade and investment opportunities between Nigeria and other member countries of the Commonwealth.
Glazebrook made the call when she led a delegation of CWEIC Strategic Partners during her separate meetings with Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja and the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in Ikeja.
She also pledged the CWEIC’s support to the Nigerian government and highlighted some of the council’s forthcoming events both in Nigeria and outside, including the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit in London in 2025, and the proposed Trade and Investment Summit to be held in Nigeria in the second half of 2025.
“We want to help boost trade and investment into Nigeria and equally support Nigerian businesses looking out to develop plans for more interactions with foreign partners.
“We will really like to look up ways where we can encourage the Nigerian government and the business community to take advantage of the Commonwealth market across the 56 countries and other partners in the Middle East and North Africa,” she said.
Responding to the CWEIC’s delegation, Vice President Shettima said that Nigeria would become a major economic force in the world under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Nigeria is where the attraction should be for investors all over the world as Nigeria will become a major global economic force under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
In Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu welcomed the CWEIC’s delegation and talked about the huge potential the state offers to investors and the key priority areas of his administration.
Sanwo-Olu, thereafter, directed the Commissioner of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, to explore the possibility of a strategic partnership with the CWEIC.
According to Glazebrook, “We had a long history of collaboration with Nigeria. There were a number of collaborations done a number of years ago with Lagos State as a strategic partner. We are looking to build those links and really restart again.”
Glazebrook added that CWEIC looks across a whole range of sectors in Nigeria, particularly around energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, growing the skills of young people, maritime, healthcare and SMEs on “how we can support initiatives that will grow these sectors. These are sectors we prioritise and build into our programme.
While in Abuja, Glazebrook attended a reception for the CWEIC’s strategic partners and delegates who were hosted by the British High Commissioner, Richard Montgomery, at the Abuja British Residence with the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter.
She also said that CWEIC, in conjunction with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, jointly hosted the Commonwealth Businesses and Nigeria Trade and Investment Roundtable in Abuja at Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre with top Nigerian businesses and Commonwealth delegates in attendance.
She visited the Novare Gateway Mall at Lugbe, owned by Novare Equity Partners, which is one of the strategic partners of CWEIC.
Glazebrook also co-chaired the Nigeria International Advisory Council (NIAC) meeting in Lagos with Olasupo Shasore, (SAN) who is the NIAC chairman.
She rounded off her visit to Nigeria with a tour of the Lagos Free Zone (including Lekki Port) at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos which is owned by one of CWEIC’s strategic partners, the Lagos Free Zone.
Glazebrook was thankful to Nigerian strategic partners for their support and active membership over the years. These partners are Dangote Group, Zenith Bank Plc, Famfa Oil Limited, Africa Law Practice NG & Co, Novare Equity Partners, Seplat Energy Plc, Africa Export-Import Bank, Custodian Investment Plc, Emerging Africa Group, Honeywell Group, Lagos Free Zone, Leadway Assurance, Next International Nigeria Limited, YOA Insurance Brokers Limited, Prime Atlantic Limited, Matrix Energy Limited, LandAfrique Ltd, Investment One Limited, C.L.G Securities Limited and the LATC Group.
