Obasanjo, Abike Dabiri, RMD Set Agenda as Afretrade Festival Opens in Lagos

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) were among notable speakers who set the tone for economic collaboration, entrepreneurship and diaspora engagement as the Afretrade Entrepreneur’s Festival began on Wednesday, June 17, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The three-day festival, which will conclude on Friday, June 19, brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, diaspora leaders and industry stakeholders to explore pathways for Africa’s sustainable economic development through trade, innovation and strategic partnerships.

In his welcome remarks, Festival Convener and Chief Executive Officer of Afretrade, Lekan Salaam, welcomed participants to the gathering sharing the purpose behind the event.

Presenting the Afretrade vision, Chief Operating Officer of Afretrade and Festival Director, Dr. Charly Lemassi, described the initiative as the ecosystem for Africa’s sustainable economic development.

A major highlight of the opening day was a panel discussion on leveraging the Lagos–California Sister-State Partnership to overcome economic barriers and drive shared prosperity across sectors. The session featured actor, producer and cultural ambassador Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), real estate entrepreneur Dr. Adetoro Bank-Omotoye, fashion entrepreneur Osa Olode, Facility-Bills founder Unwana Ekanem, and other business leaders.

Speaking during the panel session, RMD emphasized the role of Nigeria’s creative industry in projecting the country’s influence across the continent. According to him, “It is through Nigerian films that we dominated Africa and it is through Nigerian films that we set the stage for Afrobeats.”

The veteran actor noted that Nollywood’s success helped create cultural pathways that have enabled other Nigerian creative exports, particularly music, to gain global acceptance and commercial success.

Delivering a keynote address titled The California–Lagos Partnership: Unlocking Massive Opportunities for Nigerian Entrepreneurs in Transportation, Logistics and Trade, California Secretary for Transportation, Toks Omishakin, urged entrepreneurs to embrace initiative and innovation.

“Do not wait to strike when the iron is hot, but strike to make the iron hot,” Omishakin said, encouraging participants to create opportunities rather than waiting for favourable conditions.

In her keynote presentation on Diaspora as Bridge Builders, NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa called for stronger collaboration among Africans both at home and abroad, stressing the importance of building globally competitive African products and services.

“I am hoping that ten years from now, maybe five years from now, that child in Brazil will wear clothes from the African continent. I am hoping that that family from Canada will cook with vegetables and spices from Obasanjo Farms. And that CEO in Dubai will use software built by Africans,” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa added that Africa’s economic future depends on bold and strategic cooperation among stakeholders.

“The future starts with the conversations we are having in this room today — to trade boldly, to trade smartly, but most importantly to trade the Nigerian way, the African way, where business builds community and profit builds pride,” she stated.

She further warned against disunity among Africans and members of the diaspora, declaring, “Let’s collaborate, otherwise we will collapse.”

Former President Obasanjo, who delivered the keynote address titled Africa’s Economic Renaissance: The Leadership, Discipline and Private Sector Action We Need Now, identified entrepreneurship, leadership, infrastructure and diaspora engagement as the pillars required for Africa’s transformation.

“Entrepreneurship, leadership and infrastructure are essential. And more for me, the fourth is Global Africa, which includes the diaspora — Africa on the continent and Africa outside the continent,” Obasanjo said.

Following his keynote address, former President Obasanjo was honoured with an award presented on behalf of Afretrade by NiDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in recognition of his contributions to leadership, entrepreneurship development and Africa’s economic growth.

The former president described entrepreneurs as risk-takers and innovators who create products and services while driving economic growth and sustainability.

“You are an entrepreneur because you are ready to take risk. You are an entrepreneur because you are innovative. You are an entrepreneur because you want to start something new. You are an entrepreneur because you want to market a product or a service. You are an entrepreneur because you want to make profit and sustain what you have begun,” he stated.

Obasanjo also linked infrastructure development to economic prosperity, employment generation and improved quality of life.

“Wherever you have infrastructure, you have high life expectancy. Wherever you have infrastructure, you have development. Wherever you have infrastructure, you have employment generation,” he added.

The Afretrade Entrepreneurs Festival continues through Friday, June 19, with additional keynote sessions, panel discussions, networking engagements and strategic conversations focused on trade, technology, investment, diaspora participation and Africa’s economic growth.