LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Chairman of the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce (NASCC), Ije Jidenma, has called for stronger economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and strategic partnerships between Nigeria and South Africa, stressing that closer collaboration between Africa’s two largest economies is critical to the continent’s global competitiveness.
Speaking during a breakfast meeting in Lagos, Jidenma reflected on the historic significance of South Africa’s democratic transition 32 years ago and the enduring relationship between both nations.
He noted that Nigeria stood alongside the international community in celebrating South Africa’s first democratic elections, marking the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new era of unity and inclusion.
According to him, the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa extends beyond diplomacy and should be anchored on practical economic cooperation, mutual trust, and shared African aspirations.
“Both countries are regional powerhouses, and when we work together effectively, the broader continent benefits.”
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“We must strengthen the way we work together as leading forces in Africa so that we can take our rightful place in the global economy,” Jidenma said.
He emphasized the need to expand trade and investment opportunities by reducing barriers to commerce and encouraging joint ventures across key sectors, including energy, fintech, telecommunications, banking, and agriculture.
Highlighting successful examples of cross-border investments, Jidenma pointed to MTN’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, Stanbic IBTC Bank’s growing role in the financial industry, and the expanding footprint of major African businesses such as Dangote Group and Jinlaks Group across both markets.
“We should focus on the right things we are doing and celebrate those successes so that we can build momentum and move forward as a continent,” she said.
Jidenma also urged businesses and policymakers to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) more aggressively to boost intra-African trade and create stronger bilateral investment protection frameworks capable of improving investor confidence.
Beyond trade and investment, he stressed the importance of changing narratives and strengthening people-to-people connections between both nations.
She called for increased media collaboration, exchange programmes, and storytelling initiatives that would help Nigerians and South Africans better understand their shared history and common interests.
“We need to tell our stories ourselves,” she said. “We should not allow misdirected or misinformed narratives to derail us. If there are challenges, we must take responsibility and ask what more we can do to strengthen understanding between our peoples.”
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Jidenma noted that historical ties dating back to the anti-apartheid struggle provide a strong foundation for deeper cooperation, adding that cultural industries such as music, fashion, film, and the broader creative economy offer significant opportunities for collaboration.
She challenged the chamber and its partners to create practical structures that support entrepreneurs seeking to expand across borders.
He specifically commended the chamber’s collaboration with Lagos Business School, describing it as a valuable platform for equipping businesses with the knowledge and regulatory guidance needed to thrive in foreign markets.
According to him, stronger collaboration would also enhance Africa’s voice on the global stage.
“If we do not work together, we will continue to be diminished in the global arena, and that is not what we want at this stage,” she stated.
Jidenma further acknowledged the support of the South African Consulate in Nigeria and disclosed that NASCC is working closely with the South African-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg to deepen commercial engagement between both countries.
