Nigerian firms advised to tap Mauritius for global financing

To strengthen knowledge sharing and open new channels for Nigerian enterprises to access global finance, leading law firm Babalakin & Co. has called on financial experts and investors to explore Mauritius as a hub for cross-border expansion and international financing.

The call was made at a high-level breakfast meeting in Lagos, tagged “Finance Roundtable 1.0,” organised by the firm in partnership with Intercontinental Trust Limited (ITL).

The event, themed “Structuring for Growth: Leveraging Mauritius for Cross-Border Expansion and Financing,” brought together top entrepreneurs, investors, and financial experts to discuss strategies for harnessing Mauritius’ financial ecosystem in driving growth and global competitiveness for Nigerian businesses.

Speakers at the session included Partner at Babalakin & Co., Mabel Okereke; Chief Representative Officer (Nigeria) of Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), Azeez Abiodun; and Executive Director of ITL, Kesaven Moothoosamy.

Okereke said the forum was designed to help Nigerian businesses understand how best to access global capital.

“The goal is to bring international finance to our shores by equipping entrepreneurs with the structures they need to thrive across borders while remaining competitive locally,” she noted.

Abiodun of MCB highlighted the advantages of using the Mauritian International Financial Centre as a platform for African businesses.

“Mauritius has become a bridge for connecting capital to opportunities in markets like Nigeria, with regulatory frameworks that support investors and protect assets,” he said.

Moothoosamy added that Mauritius’s growing network of double taxation treaties and investment protection agreements made it attractive for structuring investments.

“Fiduciary services, trusts and compliance mechanisms in Mauritius are built to lower risks and improve access to international partners,” he explained.

Earlier in his opening address, the Managing Partner, Mr Wale Akoni, urged the business sector members present to take advantage of the opportunity to expand their business to the world.

According to Akoni, Mauritius is increasingly positioning itself as a regional gateway for investment into Africa, offering stable regulation, favourable treaties and an expanding financial services sector.

“For Nigerian companies seeking to raise foreign currency funding, protect investments and expand globally, the jurisdiction is becoming an important option,” he said.