To deepen bilateral trade between Nigeria and Turkey, investors from both countries are exploring new areas of investment by way of joint ventures and technological relationships.
Daniel Deji Ayodele, founder of the Mind Shift Empowerment and Employment (MEE) initiative and convener of the first edition of the Turkiye-Nigeria Business and Investment forum held recently in Lagos, said that the summit aims to promote bilateral trade and investment between Nigeria and Turkey.
According to him, the MEE initiative has been able to position Nigeria as a gateway for Turkey businesses into the Africa and Sahel region by showcasing the country’s enormous potential.
He stated that apart from boosting trade, his organisation is also connecting businesspeople from both countries to help attract the much-needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Nigeria.
“We have come from Turkey with a delegation from the business community of Turkey to show them that Nigeria is safe for business,” Ayodele said.
“What we have done is to create partnerships, and relationships and sell Nigeria as a country that is ready to receive investors,” he said.
He stated that it was pertinent to change the wrong narrative that Nigeria is not suitable for investments owing to its security challenges, noting that the business delegation from Turkey has seen that it is safe to do business in Nigeria.
“We have gone as far as reaching out to over 64 businesses in Turkey and telling them that Nigeria is safe for business and some of the businesses are part of the delegations with us today,” he noted.
“We are taking them to see what is happening in the country and to meet with captains of industries,” he added. He called on the government to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
In his speech, Gabriel Idahosa, president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) applauded the initiative of bringing delegations from Turkey and having the summit to promote trade between both countries.
Idahosa noted that it takes the business communities of both countries to initiate activities before the government can be motivated to provide support.
“There is lots of interest that has been identified during this first meeting and I believe that within the next few months, certain transactions will emanate from the conservations,” he added.
According to him, the chamber intends to support the event in a significant manner by having further engagements with the business delegations from Turkey.
Martins Arebun, president of the Organisation also shared that we are no longer looking for businesses that wants to come to Nigeria rather business that should be in Nigeria.
Also, Ismail Aktas, general president of the Eurasia Businessmen Association of Turkey described Nigeria as an amazing country with enormous opportunities.
Aktas noted that lots of Turkish businessmen want to do business in Nigeria and the summit provides that opportunity to do so.
Shina Peller, former House of Representative member and founder of Aquila Group said Nigerians are very resilient, focused and easily adapt to situations, noting that these attributes are also similar to the Turkish people.
He urged the Turkish businessmen to tap opportunities in the country by investing in Nigeria.
