The Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of Merited Negotiation Consulting, Kunle Yusuff, MON, has described the recently concluded Nigeria-China Sustainable Business Bilateral Trade and Investment Summit as a defining moment in the evolution of economic relations between both nations.
Held on June 23, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, the summit brought together top Nigerian and Chinese political figures, business leaders, investors, and trade experts to strengthen partnerships and explore new frontiers of sustainable development.
Conceived and executed under the legislative guidance of the National Assembly in collaboration with Merited Negotiation Consulting, the summit attracted a powerful gathering that underscored the growing importance of Nigeria-China relations in the global trade arena.
In attendance were key figures such as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, GCON; several state governors including Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, and Ademola Adeleke of Osun; and federal ministers overseeing foreign affairs, marine economy, and solid minerals.
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From the Chinese side, the Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Yu Duhai, the Consul General in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, and the leadership of the China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria participated alongside a significant delegation of Chinese investors and trade envoys.
The summit brought together over 400 Nigerian and Chinese business leaders, including more than 170 Nigerian CEOs and 115 heads of Chinese companies. The turnout reflected a shared desire to take existing trade cooperation beyond conventional exports and into collaborative infrastructure development, industrial investment, technological exchange, and long-term capital partnerships.
Stakeholders engaged in robust conversations that culminated in the signing of several memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements across sectors including agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, ICT, fintech, and solid minerals.
Yusuff, in a post-summit briefing, emphasized that the event was not merely a ceremonial gathering but a launchpad for transformative engagement. He announced that preparations are already in motion for the China Summit, scheduled to hold on October 16, 2025, in Beijing.
According to him, more than 200 Chinese investors have already signaled strong interest in investing in Nigeria through direct investment channels. These interests span a wide spectrum, from energy to pharmaceuticals, from capacity-building initiatives to infrastructure financing, and reflect the increasing confidence of Chinese capital in Nigeria’s economic potential.
He attributed the successful outcomes of the Lagos summit to a convergence of political will, institutional support, and Nigeria’s strategic push to position itself as a gateway for foreign direct investment in Africa.
He particularly praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign policy direction, the legislative backing from the National Assembly, and the roles played by key agencies such as the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership and Global Liaison Office and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) in fostering investor trust and providing a roadmap for effective implementation.
In the wake of the summit, conversations are already underway with the Chinese Embassy and the China Chamber of Commerce to fast-track visa processing and ensure seamless logistical support for Nigerian business delegates attending the October event.
The focus, Yusuff said, is not only on trade numbers but also on building enduring partnerships that can drive industrialization, create jobs, and transform Nigeria’s local production capacity.
Participants left the summit with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism. Many described the event as a catalytic platform that moved discussions from diplomacy to direct engagement.
The presence of Free Trade Zone operators such as the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Alaro City, and Delta State Special Economic Zone reinforced Nigeria’s readiness to host investment-ready infrastructure, while the participation of regulators, financiers, and industrial leaders from both countries brought balance and credibility to the engagement.
Yusuff noted that the relationship between Nigeria and China is shifting into a new phase, one characterized not by dependency, but by structured cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable investment. He said the long-term vision is to embed Nigerian businesses into the Chinese funding and supply chain ecosystem while ensuring that Chinese investors find the Nigerian market viable, profitable, and secure.
He also pointed to the bilateral agreements signed by President Tinubu and his Chinese counterpart in 2023 as foundational to the current momentum, explaining that the frameworks created under that agreement have been instrumental in accelerating confidence and unlocking capital inflows.
According to him, the October summit in Beijing will further consolidate the gains of the Lagos summit and allow both nations to harmonize policy positions and private-sector strategies for mutual economic advancement.