NCBC Woos Nigerian Businesses to Tap Chinese Investment Opportunities for Sustainable Growth
Maryam Aminu
The Nigeria-China Business Council (NCBC), has urged Nigerian businesses to maximise the investment and trade opportunities offered through Nigeria’s growing partnership with China as a strategy for accelerating economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.
The call was made by the Chairman of the Council, Chief Jacob Wood, during the NCBC Stakeholders Business Forum and Luncheon held in Abuja with the theme, “From Trade to Transformation: Advancing Nigeria-China Business Strategic Economic Partnership for Sustainable Development.”
Chief Wood described the Nigeria-China relationship as one that continues to yield significant economic benefits, assuring stakeholders that the Council would intensify efforts to educate businesses on available opportunities in both countries. According to him, stronger engagement between Nigerian entrepreneurs and their Chinese counterparts will promote investment, reduce poverty and create more employment opportunities.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the NCBC, Dr. Sam Agbi, disclosed that the Council has facilitated more than $10 million in investments into Nigeria through Chinese electrical and electronics companies. He said the investments have generated thousands of jobs for Nigerian youths while strengthening local value chains.
Dr. Agbi noted that the Council is championing a shift from conventional trade to deeper economic cooperation driven by industrialisation, technology transfer, value addition, innovation, skills development and sustainable investment.
He explained that the NCBC serves as a strategic bridge between the public and private sectors of Nigeria and China by promoting bilateral trade, facilitating investments, advocating business-friendly policies and creating platforms for strategic partnerships.
According to him, the Council has over the years organised trade missions, investment forums, business matchmaking programmes and capacity-building initiatives while coordinating Nigerian participation in major international events such as the Canton Fair and the Panda Film and Television Festival in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
He added that these engagements have exposed Nigerian businesses to global best practices and expanded opportunities for collaboration, innovation and investment.
Dr. Agbi said the forum was designed to provide a permanent platform for dialogue between Nigerian and Chinese investors, manufacturers, exporters, financial institutions and policymakers, particularly across Abuja and Northern Nigeria.
He expressed confidence that deliberations at the forum would culminate in a communiqué containing practical recommendations to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and stimulate sustainable investments and inclusive growth.
As part of the Council’s institutional repositioning, Dr. Agbi announced the unveiling of the official NCBC lapel pin, describing it as a symbol of stakeholders’ commitment to advancing Nigeria-China economic cooperation.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Ms. Aisha Rimi, represented by the Commission’s Head of Investment Promotion Department, Mr. Emmanuel Longza, encouraged Chinese investors to explore opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture, solid minerals, engineering and other strategic sectors of the Nigerian economy.
She assured investors that the Federal Government, through the NIPC, has introduced incentives and investment-friendly policies to support businesses operating in the country.
Representatives of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Council’s efforts to expand non-oil exports, strengthen MSMEs and promote entrepreneurship.
Other participants, including former Controller of Immigration Samuel Chinda and retired General Salisu Uba, urged Nigerian businesses to take advantage of the expanding partnership with China to unlock new investment opportunities and drive national economic transformation.
