By Nik Ogbulie
(Moneyreport magazine/moneyreport.ng)
One of the legacies of Afreximbank precursors came alive last Monday at the refurbished National Art Theatre, Lagos, now renamed Wole Soyinka Center, as the agreement signing ceremony of the 5th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), nicknamed Lagos27 was held.
Agog was the description, as the imposing architecture hosted about 2000 guests who are eagerly looking forward to the November 5-11, 2027 exposition as IATF makes its debute to West Africa, after a false-hosting by Cote de’ivoir in 2021.
In its usually iconic event presentation and management, Afreximbank sets up the venue to look like life ceremony reminiscent of all the four editions held in Cairo(2018), Durban (2021), Cairo again(2023) and Algiers (2025).
In his usual enthusiasm, The Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, did not hide his feelings of having the world to celebrate Africa’s integration efforts in an edifice he built some 50 years ago as military Head of State of Nigeria. Ironically, fifty years down the line, the venue still remains the only landmark venue for classic events in Nigeria today, further justifying his level of foresight in development and material management.
He noted that “today’s signing implies a renewed continental spirit… when I was being conducted round, I remembered some 50 years ago….”
He noted that the venue has some historic relevance because it is the place African Heads of States signed a remarkable economic development charter which still forms part of what Afreximbank and its partners are today leveraging to plot the future of the continent.
He congratulated President Bola Tinubu, Funke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Trade and Investment Minister and Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, along with all members of the Nigerian government for getting this done.
Obasanjo sued for a successful IATF27 and asked that the country must endeavour to orchestrate the kind of development Africa wants through a unified market towards the African we want. “I extend my profound optimism and with confidence that IATF27 will surpass all that has been done” he noted. He claimed this is an assurance the Nigerian minister of Trade and Investment gave to the Council.
Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of Board of the bank, whose major outing since he mounted the saddle some five months ago, went proverbial in an effort to express the huge expectation from the Nigerian Governmant using the ‘Elephant analogy.’
Elombi indicated that Africans are expected to remain strong on the agenda of the IATF, indicating that “we should aim high in 2027 because Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and home to African millionaires”,Implying that through the IATF, we must build the Africa we want.He urged the African media to buckle up for a robust and better reportage. He describes Nigeria as Nation with a very enterprising spirit . “We look atIATF27 as a very successful one. We are here today because we feel that President Tinubu will deliver the elephant”, Elombi said.
Elombi thanked Oduwole for ensuring that the IATF comes to Lagos. He describes the IATF as a clan, a mighty clan that wants to grow and eulogized Obasanjo’s zeal in sacrificing the various stakes. He described Nigeria as a country of resolute capitalists and pleaded to Lagos State Government to carry along all his 36 states counterparts so as to make the IATF27 a resounding success.
Nigeria’s Trade minister further noted that , “as we prepare, Nigerians are proud.We want to work with all partners to create an enduring platform for global Africa.”
For the Lagos State Governor, Lagos27 is a win-win as the government will spend on the project which is intended to open up new business grounds that will be of huge advantage for economies that have developed propencity for sporadic growth like Lagos, taunted to be richer than ten African economies put together.
” I want to assure you that the CANEX taking place in November will be a master piece.IATF27 will not only be great. Next year at the IATF2027, Lagos will make Africans proud. It will be the biggest ever.
Top Afreximbank Executives and private sector operators explained at the ceremony that the even will earn the collective effort of the Nigerian industry in line with the larger expectations of many Africans. According to Dr Muktar Ahmed a Group executive of Dangote Industries and prominent member of important IATF Committes, the signing ceremony today makes me feel very fulfilled in line with Nigeria’s efforts in the entire African integration project. He was at a point President, African Manufacturers Association.
Mrs Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade and Africa Export described her feelings of the event as great. “I am excited”, Awani toldMagazine at the Wole Soyinke Center, Lagos.
Government, private sector operators were fully represented as a huge number of Afreximbank team, African Union, AfCFTA and huge number of the international media attended the event.
