Nigeria and South Africa reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral economic cooperation at the Ministerial Business Roundtable held in Lagos, where leaders from both nations explored practical ways to boost trade, investment, and industrial development across Africa.
The event took place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Rooftop Event Centre, MTN Plaza, Ikoyi, bringing together top government officials, diplomats, and business executives.
Hosted by the South African High Commission in Nigeria, the forum formed part of ongoing efforts to implement resolutions made at the 11th Bi-National Commission (BNC) co-chaired by Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024.
The hall was filled with quiet anticipation as attendees settled into transparent chairs arranged in neat rows under soft yellow lighting. The setting exuded elegance and focus, South African and Nigerian flags flanked the stage while conversations on collaboration, trade, and shared growth filled the air.
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, spoke on the importance of Lagos as a gateway for investment in West Africa. He highlighted the state’s ongoing commitment to infrastructure and innovation as key enablers of economic growth. “This meeting is not just about discussion,” he said. “It’s about transforming shared ideas into real progress.”
Also addressing participants, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka, underscored the importance of moving from dialogue to development, saying that both nations are now in the implementation phase of their bilateral agreements. She stressed that translating policy into measurable results was at the heart 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.”
A panel discussion followed under the theme “Africa’s Twin Engines: How Nigeria–South Africa Relations Can Position Africa as a Global Middle Power.”
It featured 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 responded to a question on how both nations plan to achieve the shared goals discussed. She explained that joint ministerial committees were already working to eliminate barriers in trade and investment.
“Governments alone cannot fight poverty and inequality,” she said. “Partnerships are the way forward.”
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994, Nigeria and South Africa have remained central to Africa’s political and economic landscape. In 1999, the Bi-National Commission (BNC) was established as a structured platform to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, technology, and security.
At the 11th BNC meeting held in Cape Town in 2024, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to promoting industralisation, renewable energy, and youth employment. The Lagos roundtable served as a follow-up engagement to drive the implementation of these goals through public and private sector collaboration.
The Ministerial Business Roundtable ended on a note of renewed purpose, as participants from both nations emphasised the need to turn commitments into concrete action. Discussions centered on removing trade barriers, encouraging joint ventures, and promoting innovation-driven industries that can sustain long-term development.
With both governments pledging continued cooperation, the Nigeria–South Africa partnership stands positioned to strengthen regional integration and contribute to Africa’s collective economic advancement.
Ademide Adebayo
Follow us on:
