Nigeria and South Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic ties during the Ministerial Business Roundtable in Lagos, where leaders from both countries discussed concrete strategies to enhance trade, investment, and industrial development across Africa.

The meeting was held on Thursday, at the Rooftop Event Centre, MTN Plaza, Ikoyi, and brought together senior government officials, diplomats, and business leaders.

Hosted by the South African High Commission in Nigeria, the forum is part of ongoing efforts to implement the resolutions of the 11th Bi-National Commission, co-chaired by Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024.

The hall buzzed with quiet anticipation as attendees took their seats on transparent chairs neatly arranged under warm yellow lighting. The atmosphere combined elegance with focus, with South African and Nigerian flags framing the stage while conversations about collaboration, trade, and mutual growth filled the room.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, emphasized Lagos’s role as a gateway for investment in West Africa, noting the state’s ongoing focus on infrastructure and innovation as drivers of economic growth.

“This meeting is not just about discussion,” he said. “It’s about transforming shared ideas into real progress.”

Also addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka, noted the need to move from dialogue to tangible development, noting that both countries are now focused on implementing their bilateral agreements.

She emphasized that turning policy into measurable outcomes was central to the objectives of the Lagos roundtable.

“We are now in the implementation phase,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure that the progress we talk about translates into benefits for our people.”

The event continued with a panel discussion themed “Africa’s Twin Engines: How Nigeria–South Africa Relations Can Position Africa as a Global Middle Power.”

Panelists included Dr. Hamzat, Thandi Moraka, Karl Toriola (CEO, MTN Nigeria), Dr. Ije Jidenma (Chairperson, Institute of Directors Nigeria), and Dr. Tunde Ayeye (Business Executive).

During the session, Moraka addressed a question on how both countries plan to achieve their shared objectives, noting that joint ministerial committees are already working to remove barriers to trade and investment.

“Governments alone cannot fight poverty and inequality,” she said. “Partnerships are the way forward.”

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1994, Nigeria and South Africa have played pivotal roles in Africa’s political and economic landscape. In 1999, the Bi-National Commission was created as a structured platform to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, technology, and security.