The maiden Nigeria-Ireland Trade and Investment Summit held at the Student Centre of the University College in Dublin (UCD) from June 30 to July 2, 2022, was an impactful and rewarding summit, which further strengthened the long standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Ireland, as well as opened up new business opportunities and ideas between the two countries.
The performing Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Her Excellency,Amb.Ijeoma Obiezu, who hosted the first ever summit of this kind, stated that the summit, which has the theme: Prospering Together Through Trade and Investment’, provided a forum for the governments of Nigeria and Ireland, as well as their respective business communities to engage in exchange of business ideas for the growth of both economies and mutual prosperity.
The summit which was a huge success, a reinforced commitment to the Nigeria-Ireland long-term sustainability-based bilateral economic cooperation.
The Nigerian-Ireland trade and investment summit also served as a hub to foster successful business relationships as top government agencies, business men, multinationals and other parastatals harnessed existing and new trade opportunities at the summit as new business relationships and MOUs were signed.
Though the summit had the private sector as the chief driver, it was also laced with high level government delegation from both countries, amongst whom were; the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria: HE,Sile Maguire;the Nigerian Honourable Minister of state for Industry, Trade and Investment;Amb Mariam Katagum as well as her Ireland counterpart; TD Minister Robert Troy; the Nigerian Honourable Minister of Petroleum; His Excellency, Timipre Sylva,the Ireland Minister for Environment, Climate, and Communications ;
Others are; TD Eamon Ryan, the CEO Nigerian Export Promotion Council; Dr. Ezra Yakusak, CEO Irish Exporters Association; Simon Mckeever, representative of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, CEO Dublin Chambers of Commerce; Mary Rose Burke, Director of EU and International Affairs(IBEC); Dr. Pat Ivory, Country Representative,Enterprise Ireland; Ms. Thessa Bagu, West Africa Regional Manager Bord Bia; Ms. Ese Ekpomo, Director, Zones Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority( NEPZA); Mr. Mua’zu Ruma , the Deputy Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Services; Ms. K.C. Ekekezi, amongst others.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland thanked those present at the summit, she also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian and Irish governments as well as the private sector, for helping achieve a successful and impactful maiden Trade and Investment, stressing that the impact of the summit can never be over emphasized.
