Nigeria, South Africa Deepen Trade Ties With Focus On Partnerships, Regulation
SOUTH Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), in collaboration with the South African Consulate General Lagos, on Thursday concluded the 2025 Outward Selling Trade Mission to Nigeria, with discussions centred on business-to-business engagement, investor confidence, and regulatory reforms.
The Acting High Commissioner and Consul General of South Africa in Nigeria, Professor Bobby J. Moroe, said the initiative was designed to expand trade cooperation between both countries. He urged Nigeria and South Africa to leverage their economic size to strengthen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“This mission is about using the strength of our economies to deepen Africa’s role in global trade. The partnerships built here can open opportunities for jobs, infrastructure, and industrial growth,” Moroe stated.
A key feature of the programme was business matchmaking sessions facilitated by McKire Africa, connecting South African companies in manufacturing, mining, engineering, agriculture, and agro-processing with Nigerian firms. Founder of McKire Africa, Margaret Chichi Nkire, explained that the sessions were aimed at distributorships, joint ventures, and long-term cooperation.
“These are practical steps that move beyond introductions. They provide a basis for distributorship, partnerships, and collaborations that support AfCFTA’s objective of increasing trade within Africa,” Nkire said.
The mission also addressed the regulatory environment in Nigeria. Barrister David Hachilam Nkire, Partner at Fola Sowemimo & Co (Sterling Partners), delivered a presentation on reforms to improve the ease of doing business.
“Nigeria is open for business, and the reforms being undertaken are designed to make it easier for investors to establish and expand their operations,” he said. “With credible local collaboration, South African businesses can not only survive but thrive in Nigeria’s dynamic market.”
The programme further explored technology’s role in trade facilitation. Mr. Sonny Iroche, Chief Executive Officer of GEN AI Learning Concepts Limited, said artificial intelligence tools could strengthen cross-border transactions by authenticating business partners, assessing financial capacity, and improving efficiency.
The Chairman of the Nigeria–South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Ije Jidenma, called on both governments and the private sector to sustain collaboration, adding that Nigeria and South Africa play central roles in Africa’s economic integration.
The trade mission closed with renewed commitments from both sides to strengthen cooperation through structured platforms for business and investment engagement.
