March 17, 2026
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Nigeria, hosted a Nigeria–Tanzania Trade and Investment Forum and Business-to-Business (B2B) Meeting in Abuja on March 17, 2026. The event brought together government officials, business leaders, and investors from both countries to explore opportunities for deeper economic cooperation and increased trade.
As part of the engagement, ACCI earlier on Monday organized a strategic factory tour for the Tanzanian delegation to selected member-owned businesses in Abuja. The tour provided helpful details about Nigeria’s industrial capacity and manufacturing potential, laying a strong foundation for meaningful business discussions during the forum.
Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, the President of ACCI, delivered the keynote address at the B2B session held at Rockview Royale Hotel, Wuse II, with Prof. Adesoji Adesugba representing him. He emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations through private sector collaboration, noting that both Nigeria and Tanzania possess vast economic potential driven by dynamic markets and abundant resources.
Prof. Adesugba said the forum is an important step for improving trade between African countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He pointed out that meetings like the B2B session help businesses connect, form partnerships, and achieve goals like creating jobs, encouraging new ideas, and expanding markets.
In his welcome remarks, the Director General of ACCI, Agabaidu Jideani, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to promoting trade and investment across Africa. He noted ACCI’s role in fostering public-private partnerships and supporting enterprise growth through its specialized centers, trade groups, and policy advocacy initiatives.
The Tanzanian Ambassador to Nigeria, Seletine Gervas Kakele, commended ACCI for convening the forum and facilitating productive dialogue. While acknowledging over five decades of strong diplomatic relations between both countries, he stressed the need to significantly boost trade volumes and enhance investment and people-to-people exchanges. He also highlighted Tanzania’s positive economic outlook, driven by agriculture, tourism, mining, and financial services, alongside ongoing efforts to improve the investment climate.
Also speaking, Hamza Umar Ismail, CEO of Amil Hamza Tanzania Limited, expressed the readiness of Tanzanian businesses to partner with Nigerian counterparts. He pointed to opportunities in Tanzania’s coffee industry and encouraged Nigerian investors to take advantage of the country’s production capacity and investor-friendly environment.
Other distinguished ACCI members present included the Second Deputy President, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong; the Vice President of Agriculture, Mr. Bode Thompson; Council members Mrs. Chioma Njoku and Lady Helen Ikechukwu; as well as other members of the Chamber. Also in attendance were the Director of the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Dr. Tinuke Temitope, and the Executive Director of the Abuja Trade Centre, Mr. Ezekwesili Nnaemeka, whose center facilitated the event.
A major highlight of the forum was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigerian and Tanzanian companies, which signaled a concrete step toward stronger bilateral business cooperation. The event concluded with optimism that the engagements would translate into lasting partnerships, increased trade flows, and sustainable economic growth across both nations.
By Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media & Strategy Officer
