Stakeholders demand bottleneck redress between Nigeria and South Africa to unlock Africa’s $3.4 trillion economy

MTN Group, in partnership with the South African Mission in Lagos, brought together government officials and corporate executives from Nigeria and South Africa to discuss ways to align policy with business realities between both countries at the second edition of the Nigeria–South Africa Economic Diplomacy Roundtable.

As a second edition, the event was designed to engender conversations that move from policy to implementation. Welcoming the stakeholders, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola (represented by Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer), appreciated the governments of both nations for creating an enabling environment and strengthening the diplomatic architecture.

According to him, both countries are not only the top destinations for business but also key players since they account for the largest economies on the continent.

He recalled that the 11th National Commission, which was convened in Cape Town in December 2024 and co-chaired by President Tinubu and Ramaphosa, was a declaration of the importance of the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa. Today, more than 34 bilateral agreements and MOUs frame the partnership between the two countries.

Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria

He noted that MTN understands the institutional challenges faced by millions of customers and is resolved to remove the frictions they encounter daily. The company operates across many markets in Africa. This strategically positions it to understand the struggles of small business owners and developers.

“We have trained and employed hundreds of 1000s of Africans. These are not just numbers. It is testimony of a company that has deliberately chosen to stand as one of Africa’s champions, to accelerate Agenda 2063, and to drive the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area”, he said.

He added that his team is committed to removing these frictions for the 1.4 billion people on the continent and unlocking the continent’s $3.4 trillion potential combined GDP.

On her part, the Chairman of the Nigerian-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Ije Jidenma, called for deeper trust, joint ventures and outcome-driven partnerships between Nigerian and South African firms, as both countries seek to convert diplomatic ties into tangible economic gains.

Jidenma described the roundtable as both “timely and strategic,” arguing that Nigeria and South Africa must lead by example in strengthening partnerships across infrastructure, logistics, housing and digital connectivity to unlock investment flows and boost productivity.

(First right) Chairman of the Nigerian-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Mrs Ije Jidenma; (next to her) Acting Consul General, South Africa Consulate in Nigeria, Kgothatso Xulu

She reiterated that economic diplomacy must move beyond rhetoric to deliver measurable progress in trade, infrastructure and private sector collaboration and praised the vision of South Africa’s Consul General, Bobby Moroe, noting his role in advancing bilateral engagement and positioning the relationship as central to Africa’s growth agenda.

Similarly, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebe, expressed that the state is banking on a wave of infrastructure development to lower business costs and unlock trade.

She said these moves are critical as Africa’s two largest economies attempt to reverse historically low levels of bilateral trade despite strong diplomatic and investment ties. “Structural bottlenecks have long limited intra-African trade, but reforms at the subnational level, particularly in Lagos, could help unlock new value chains,” she said.

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Stakeholders highlight the need for actions over words

As stakeholders deepen engagement, the Nigeria–South Africa corridor is increasingly seen as a test case for whether economic diplomacy can deliver scalable, private sector-led growth across Africa.

Speakers at the event agreed on the need for technology‑driven partnerships between Nigeria and South Africa to unlock investment flows, strengthen regional value chains, and accelerate inclusive economic integration across the continent.

Acting Consul General Kgothatso Xulu, representing Consul General Bobby Moroe, said both countries must move beyond dialogue to structured, results-driven engagement capable of unlocking continental growth.

According to him, the stakes go beyond bilateral gains.

He argued that while high-level conversations have helped sustain diplomatic goodwill over the years, the next phase of the Nigeria–South Africa relationship must be defined by implementation within clear timelines, bankable projects and measurable outcomes that directly impact trade, investment and industrial development.

The event featured two engaging panel sessions on technology and infrastructure investment. The speakers agree that existing regulatory bottlenecks, such as market access constraints and fragmented value chains, continue to limit the full potential of bilateral trade, despite the size and influence of both economies.

In all, the discussions highlighted the need for structured economic diplomacy to enhance trade, which currently accounts for less than 20% of Africa’s total trade. The roundtable also underscored the importance of youth skills development, with MTN’s initiatives in Nigeria exemplifying private sector leadership in this area.

With the African Continental Free Trade Area opening new pathways for intra-African trade, both countries carry a responsibility to lead by example to demonstrate how strategic cooperation can translate into scalable growth, stronger regional value chains and inclusive development across the continent.