Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described Africa as the next destination for global business, with Lagos being the convergence point.
He said the economic position of the State, the innovative youth population, and the conducive environment provided by the government are what make Lagos the destination of choice for many investors who have set up businesses in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu spoke during a dinner organized by Del-York International in his honour at the Intercontinental Hotel in Washington DC, the United States of America on Monday evening, with the theme: investment opportunities in Lagos, Africa’s largest economy.
The governor listed technology, infrastructure, renewable energy, and entertainment as areas that remain fertile for serious investors to look at, saying that there is a guaranteed return on investments in these for those coming to invest in the State.
Left-Right: Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor; Major General Philip Chum of the US Army Reserve; Mr. Linus Idahosa, President & Founder of Del-York International & Del-York Creative Academy and Kumja Lee, President & CEO, Global Trade and Finance during a business dinner in honour of Governor Sanwo-Olu with the theme: investment opportunities in Lagos, Africa’s largest Economy, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The United States of America, on Monday, 05 September 2022.Left-Right: Mr. Linus Idahosa, President & Founder of Del-York International and Del-York Creative Academy; Mr. Williams Armstrong, American political commentator; a member of the American Business community; Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor and Mr. Steve Hayes, President of Corporate Council on Africa, U.S.A, during a business dinner in honour of Governor Sanwo-Olu with the theme: investment opportunities in Lagos, Africa’s largest Economy, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The United States of America, on Monday, 05 September 2022.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while responding to the questions on security in Nigeria, said Lagos is the most secure State in the country, noting that it is one of the major reasons why investors are looking towards the State, promising the audience that his government will continue to make the State inhabitable for criminal minds.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Del-York International Mr. Linus Idahosa said there is no other place for investment at this time than Lagos State, given the many infrastructural projects embarked upon by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to create a good and conducive business environment for investors.
He said: “Without any equivocation, Lagos is the best and safest place for investment at this period. I’m saying this not because we have the Governor of the State here but because it is the fact. Lagos is the biggest economic hub of Africa and the government is working to ensure a safe environment for investments.”
Speaking on the change being experienced in Africa, Mr. Steve Hayes, President of Corporate Council on Africa, U.S.A said unlike a few decades ago, Nigeria has started attracting a number of investments from Nigerians living in the United States. He pointed out that this will encourage investors in the real sectors in America to look at the direction of the country.
Right-Left: Mr. Linus Idahosa, President & Founder of Del-York International and Del-York Creative Academy, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, and Mr. Edwin Huffine, CEO & Founder, Huffine Global Solutions, during a business dinner in honour of Governor Sanwo-Olu with the theme: investment opportunities in Lagos, Africa’s largest Economy, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The United States of America, on Monday, 05 September 2022.
Other speakers touched on the issues of security and negative perceptions of Nigeria as being portrayed by foreign media, as one of the major factors militating against investment attraction in Nigeria.
On his part, Governor Sanwo-Olu allayed the fears of the investors, urging them to look at the brighter side of the country.
The business dinner, which was moderated by African-American broadcaster Williams Armstrong had over forty American investors in attendance.
Fidelity Bank’s upcoming trade expo tagged, the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC Houston), has received a major boost as the Mayor, City of Houston, Sylvester Turner, has termed it, “A catalyst to support bilateral trade between Nigeria and Houston; and an opportunity for the Houston community and the diaspora to explore emerging trends, forge new partnerships and unlock new possibilities”.
This was made known in a video message recently issued by the mayor. In the one-minute clip obtained by our journalist, Mayor Turner highlighted the several side attractions scheduled for FITCC Houston and encouraged businesses to take advantage of the expo to expand their businesses beyond borders.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday, 24, and Wednesday, 25th October 2023 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston, Texas 77010. The bank will be hosting exporters, leading businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and regulators operating in the commodity, service, creative, fashion, and FinTech sectors in Nigeria and the United States with the view of promoting Nigeria’s non-oil exports and facilitating integrations to global supply-chain networks.
Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact International PLC, has bagged Business Day’s Top 25 CEOs award in recognition of his company’s stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Speaking during the award ceremony last weekend in Lagos, the publisher, Business Day Media Ltd., Mr. Frank Aigbogun stated that the award is more than just a recognition ceremony, but a reward for excellence, innovation, and drive for positive change.
According to the publisher, the eTranzact boss and other awardees have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, resilience and relentless pursuit of a result of success and this remarkable achievement in growing market value within the period of review stands them out as industry leaders, serving as a beacon of inspiration, admiration and respect from their peers and stakeholders alike.
“This has made us gather to celebrate your achievements, passion, and your dedication to excellence. As we recognize the countless hours of hard work, sleepless nights, and sacrifices that go into building and leading a successful business, your resilience in the face of challenges is truly commendable and it is an honour to acknowledge and celebrate your triumphs,” he concluded.
Responding after the award, Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope said the award is a testament to what they have been doing in the financial technology sector within the past 20 years.
Left-Right: Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher BusinessDay presenting Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope : MD/CEO, eTranzact Plc the award recognition of the company’s stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the Top 25 CEOs Award in Lagos.etra
Toluwalope said: “This award means a lot to us since we began the journey of transformation as an organisation a couple of years ago.”He believed the board, the management, and the entire team have worked very hard to reimagine strategy, focusing extensively on execution capability. “We have built more partnerships, deepened our collaboration with the government, private sector, with lots of our financial service partners. The quality of products and solutions we offer coupled with the investment we have made in technology infrastructure is the outcome of all we are seeing now in terms of our improvement and top performance.”
“As one of the top fintech companies in the country, having been around for over 20 years, doing great things and setting new standards and creating pioneer products and solutions, these are the things that have created the pillars which we stand on today, which is what is creating this visibility and identification we are seeing and benefiting from,” he said. It is worth noting that, eTranzact under the leadership of Mr. Toluwalope recorded the highest-ever profitability in the 20-year history of the company in its 2022 financial year.
The company is already on the upward trajectory to build on the gains of the performance by continually providing world-class solutions and products to its discerning clients which cuts across both public and private sectors.
Nnamdi Okonkwo, Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, has bagged outstanding CEO in the just concluded Top 25 CEOs Awards organized by BusinessDay that was held at the Ballroom of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.
Left-Right: Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.
In this year’s edition of the BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs, the publication recognised 25 Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors of various listed firms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) who experienced outstanding financial development and also made important contributions to their respective industries.
FBNHoldings team that graced the event are Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.