Nigeria and Canada have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations as trade volume between both countries surpassed $3 billion last year.
Randeep Sarai, Canada’s secretary of state (International Development), disclosed this during a reception held in his honour at the Deputy High Commission of Canada in Lagos on Friday.
Describing Nigeria as a strategic partner, Sarai noted that the most populous black nationis Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Africa.
“Nigeria is central to that movement,” he said. “Trade and mutual growth are priorities for Canada, and increasingly development and trade are no longer separate conversations.”
The visitor also disclosed that Canada is ready to commit over $30 million in new support for initiatives in Nigeria and across West Africa.
Sarai said the new support would focus on strengthening health systems, supporting women entrepreneurs and small businesses, promoting climate resilience and clean growth, and improving governance, digital resilience and access to justice across the region.
“Together they will help build more inclusive and resilient institutions and economy across the region,” he said.
He also highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between both countries, noting that over 120,000 Nigerians now live in Canada.
“That friendship is really, really deep and that makes Nigeria a strategic gateway for Canadian businesses and a natural partner for the long term,” he added.
Sarai said Canada’s areas of interest in Nigeria include infrastructure, agriculture, clean energy, health, digital innovation and mining, stressing that countries now seek reliable partners that “show up and follow through.”
During his visit, the Canadian official said he toured several projects supported through partnerships involving Canada, including the Apo Primary Health Centre, renewable energy projects, girls’ education and digital skills initiatives, and an AI innovation centre supported by the United Nations Development Programme.
He said the projects demonstrated how development partnerships could support economic growth while expanding opportunities for women and youth.
Speaking at the event, Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting Canadian investments and strengthening bilateral trade relations.
“Nigeria continues to partner with Canada as one of our strategic investors and partners in trade and investment and industry,” she said.
According to the minister, both countries held bilateral discussions focused on investment promotion and protection for Canadian investors in Nigeria and Nigerian investors in Canada.
Oduwole said the current administration’s economic agenda places development at the centre of trade and industrial policies, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
She noted that Nigeria had ratified the AfCFTA protocol on women and youth and was implementing programmes aimed at improving access to capital for women-led businesses and supporting women in manufacturing.
Also speaking, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Lagos State commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, said the state government remained committed to expanding economic cooperation with Canada.
She said Lagos was pursuing its goal of becoming a “21st-century economy” through strategic initiatives including the Lagos State Export Readiness Programme, which has trained more than 250 businesses on export opportunities.
Ambrose-Medebem also announced the forthcoming Invest in Lagos 3.0 conference scheduled for June 8 and 9, describing it as a platform to connect global investors with opportunities in Africa.
Meanwhile, Toye Abioye of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business said the organisation would host the sixth Canada-Africa Business Conference in Nigeria on June 24.
He said the event would bring together business leaders and institutions from Canada and Africa to advance investment, trade and partnerships between both regions.
