Liberia, Nigeria Deepen Economic Ties, Target Stronger Trade, Investment

Nigeria and Liberia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment, with both countries calling for deeper regional economic integration, stronger private-sector collaboration, and investment-led growth to drive Africa’s development.

The commitment was made at the Liberia–Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum held in Lagos, where Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, delivered the keynote address, while Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Magdalene E. Dagoseh, delivered special addresses.

The forum, organised by the Government of Liberia through its Embassy in Nigeria and the Office of the Honorary Consul General of Liberia in Lagos, brought together more than 500 participants, including government officials, investors, business executives, diplomats, development partners and policymakers.

Held under the theme, “Building Bridges for Shared Prosperity: Strengthening Liberia–Nigeria Trade and Investment Partnership,” the event served as a platform to promote dialogue, facilitate partnerships and expand investment opportunities in key sectors of both economies.

Participants explored opportunities in agriculture, energy, infrastructure, mining, technology, the digital economy and tourism through investment presentations, sector-focused discussions, Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings.

Speaking at the forum, Dr. Oduwole stressed the importance of stronger regional economic integration and closer collaboration between governments and the private sector to unlock investment and accelerate sustainable economic growth across Africa.

Liberia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, urged African countries to move beyond government-to-government agreements by building practical partnerships that combine skills, natural resources and financial capital to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

“We need to be having these kinds of conversations right here in West Africa about how we work together that goes beyond just talking about bilateral agreements government to government but goes deeper into how we marry what is available in both countries, marry skills, natural and financial resources to make sure that we build a West Africa and an Africa that we all can be part of in terms of Agenda 2063 of the African Union,” she said.

Honorary Consul of Liberia in Lagos, Dapo Akinosun (SAN), said the forum was designed to transform longstanding diplomatic relations into concrete economic outcomes.

“We are not gathered merely to celebrate friendship, but convert friendship into factories, goodwill into goods and services, handshakes into investments and long-standing diplomatic relations into jobs and shared prosperity,” he said.

The organisers thanked delegates, sponsors and development partners for supporting the event and pledged to sustain engagement through follow-up initiatives to translate discussions into tangible investments and commercial partnerships.

They said the forum reinforced the shared commitment of Liberia and Nigeria to strengthen commercial ties, facilitate cross-border investment and promote inclusive economic growth that benefits businesses and citizens of both countries.