Lagos, Enugu emerge CWEIC’s strategic partners
![](https://guardian.ng/wp-content/plugins/ventra-lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Lagos and Enugu state Governments have emerged as strategic partners of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC). This was disclosed in Lagos by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CWEIC, Rosie Glazebrook.
Glazebrook said after meeting with the Lagos State Governor and the state’s commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, a partnership deal was signed as the state officially joined CWEIC as a strategic partner.
Other industry partners present included Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Free Zone, Adesuwa Ladoja; Executive Vice Chairman/Group Executive Officer, Emerging Africa Group, Toyin Sanni; President, Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, represented by Adeniyi Olukoya; Group Managing Director, Prime Atlantic Group, Ayo Otuyalo, represented by Taiwo Togun; and Managing Director/CEO, First Ally Capital Ltd., Ebenezer Olufowose, represented by Olumayowa Ogunwemimo.
Others were Managing Director/CEO, Novare Equity Partners, Derrick Roper, represented by Ayotunde Adesulu; British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, represented by Wale Adebajo.
Speaking with The Guardian, Glazebrook said the partnership will provide an excellent platform for businesses in Lagos State to interact across the Commonwealth and provide a whole series of activities in 2025 and beyond for the state government to showcase what it can do for inward investments and driving trade across the Commonwealth.
Speaking, she said, “In Enugu, we met with the state governor, Peter Mbah, the state’s commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Industry, Adaora O. Chukwu, and secretary to the state government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia; where we also had a strategic partnership signing ceremony for the state to officially join CWEIC. We had also put up meetings for businesses who are not yet partners to know what value we can offer to them.”
Adding that CWEIC has 25 strategic partners in Nigeria, she also used her current visit to co-chair the Nigerian advisory council with a partner at Africa Law Practice NG & Co., Olasupo Shasore. She said one of the cardinal goals of the council is breaking down barriers to trade for foreign investors who want to come into Nigeria.
“We need to make it easier for businesses to come into Nigeria. We work with 56 governments in the Commonwealth and are looking at how we can encourage businesses from other Commonwealth nations to look into Nigeria,” she explained.
Expressing confidence that the group’s efforts to make inroads into the Nigerian public sector, both at federal and state levels, are beginning to yield fruits.
She said during her last visit to Nigeria, the group met with Vice President Kashim Shetima and collaborated with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) as well as other partners to strengthen growth plans.
Calling on government and private entities to attend the upcoming Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit (CTIS) scheduled to be held in London between April 7-8, 2025, at the iconic Mansion House, she said both Lagos and Enugu States have agreed to headline the inaugural governor’s roundtable at the upcoming CTIS. This, she said, will allow both governors to engage global investors and partners.
Glazebrook estimated that the GDP of Commonwealth member countries in 2022 was $14.2 trillion and is expected to rise to $20 trillion by 2029, while the intra-Commonwealth stock of FDI is currently $1.7 trillion and looking to grow to $4.8 trillion.
“We want businesses to grow and increase exports across Commonwealth markets. We have also recognised that many of our partners have interests outside the Commonwealth, so we have opened a partnership in the Middle East where we have appointed a strategic adviser to help businesses tap into markets outside the Commonwealth,” she said.
![](https://guardian.ng/wp-content/themes/guardian2021/img/newsletter_icon.png)
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.