Abayomi Susan
Zenith Bank Plc underscored its continued dedication to advancing trade, investment, and economic collaboration between Canada and Africa, serving as the Headline Conference Sponsor for the 6th Canada-Africa Business Conference. The event took place on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Hosted by the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, the conference convened a prominent Canadian business delegation comprising 31 companies, alongside senior government officials, business executives, investors, policy-makers, diplomats, and development partners. The primary objective was to deepen Add Postcommercial linkages between Canada and Africa while reinforcing Nigeria’s role as a strategic entry point for Canadian enterprises seeking continental opportunities.
The Canadian contingent featured organisations spanning financial services, security, mining and critical minerals, legal and professional services, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, education, and clean energy. Notable participants included GardaWorld, Dentons, Baywood Group, Element, and Trilliant, among other leading Canadian firms actively exploring commercial prospects and strategic alliances in Nigeria.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, the Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunranti, characterised the conference as a pivotal platform for reinforcing commercial partnerships between Canada and Africa against the backdrop of evolving global economic dynamics. He emphasised Africa’s preparedness to spearhead the next wave of global growth, asserting that the continent now possesses the institutional capacity, policy frameworks, and collaborative networks necessary to translate its vast potential into tangible shared prosperity.
“The question is not whether Africa is rich in potential. It is whether we can turn that potential into prosperity our people can feel. For the first time, the answer is yes, because of the machinery we are now building,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo, reiterated the State Government’s resolve to cultivate a conducive climate for investment and international collaboration. He further underscored Lagos’s status as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and a vital gateway to broader African markets.
“Canada brings to the table considerable expertise, capital, innovation, and a strong tradition of institution building. Africa, and indeed Lagos, offer scale. We offer talent, creativity, market opportunities and an increasingly sophisticated business environment. Together, these strengths create a compelling foundation for transformative partnership,” he remarked.
The Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, observed that the conference exemplifies the accelerating momentum in bilateral commercial engagement between the two nations. He noted: “The relationship between Canada and Nigeria is not new. It is rooted in diplomacy, trade, education, culture, migration, and shared democratic values. But today, I believe we are entering a new chapter: one that is more ambitious, more practical, and more human.”
Chair of the Board of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, Paula Caldwell St-Onge, drew attention to Nigeria’s rising economic prominence, commenting: “Nigeria’s growth is not theoretical. It is already being built by Nigerian entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, innovators and companies whose ambition reaches across Africa and around the world.”
She further recognised Zenith Bank’s instrumental contribution to the conference’s success, stating: “Zenith Bank is not only one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, it is the capital behind what you see here today, and it represents the skill, ambition, discipline, innovation and excellence that this conference seeks to showcase.”
The programme featured high-level panel discussions centred on Canada-Africa commercial relations, investment prospects across priority sectors, and the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These sessions brought together policy-makers, corporate leaders, and sector experts to delineate actionable strategies for strengthening commercial ties and accelerating inclusive, sustainable economic development.
The conference is anticipated to enhance Nigeria’s appeal as a prime destination for Canadian investment, while unlocking fresh avenues for technology transfer, private-sector collaboration, employment generation, and enduring economic expansion. It equally reaffirms Nigeria’s strategic positioning as a hub for businesses aiming to leverage opportunities across the continent under the AfCFTA, thereby advancing the country’s broader ambition to expand its footprint in regional and global trade.
