Canadian High Commissioner Meets Obasanjo Over Agri-business Expansion In Nigeria

Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Teshome Nkrumah has met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on plans by his home government to improve the current volume of trade, particularly in agriculture which at present stood at $2.7 billion.

The meeting, which held at Obasanjo’s Penthouse residence located within the precinct of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, focused on how the Canadian government will explore and grow agric-business opportunities between the two countries which is part of the Canadian Trade policy.

Speaking with journalists after emerging from the closed-door meeting with Obasanjo yesterday, Nkrumah said the Canadian Government’s choice of the former president was as a result of his position as a renowned farmer in the state.

The envoy, who is responsible for the commercial relationship between Nigeria and Canada, was on a regional outreach to Abeokuta, which is meant to boost trade between the two countries.

Nkrumah, who disclosed that the home country could do better in improving the current volume of trade, further said that there is still more to grow in terms of opportunities between the two countries “if we are very much focused and structured.”

“We are on agricultural outreach to try to find out the opportunities in the local market to do business and boost trade between the two countries. We are meeting business people, entrepreneurs just to see where the opportunities are”.

“I am pleased to meet with the largest farmer in the state and former president. We had a nice conversation, shared his views about how to really grow the farming industry in Nigeria and we are working towards achieving synergy between Canada and Nigeria.

“We are here to build bridges, make connections and see where we can make changes to move trade between both countries forward”.

On the state of trade between the two countries, Nkrumah said “currently, I think we can do so much better. There is $2.7 billion of trade between our two countries and happily it is in favour of Nigeria. $2 billion is for Nigeria export from Canada and about $700 million is for export from Canada to Nigeria.

“But, there is still more to grow in terms of opportunities. If we are very much focused and structured and look for where to grow opportunities, we can still see our exports grow.”