Koko Maxwella 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria and South Africa have renewed their commitment to deepening economic cooperation, as government and business leaders met in Lagos for a Ministerial Business Roundtable focused on turning bilateral pledges into measurable progress.
Held at the Rooftop Event Centre, Ikoyi, the high-level forum—organised by the South African High Commission in Nigeria—aimed to accelerate implementation of resolutions reached at the 11th Bi-National Commission (BNC) co-chaired by Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024.
“This meeting is not just about conversation but action,” said Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, describing Lagos as West Africa’s gateway for trade and investment.
South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations, Thandi Moraka, stressed the need for both countries to focus on results.
“We are now in the implementation phase,” she noted. “Our goal is to ensure our discussions deliver real benefits for our people.”
Panelists including MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola and Dr Ije Jidenma, Chairperson of the Institute of Directors Nigeria, discussed how the two nations—Africa’s largest economies—can drive industrialisation, renewable energy, and youth employment.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Korede Abdullah 