By Ayomide Otitoju
MTN Nigeria transformed its iconic rooftop into a centre of high-level dialogue and pan-African ambition as policymakers, business leaders, and diplomats from Nigeria and South Africa converged to chart a new course for Africa’s economic partnership.
The event, themed “Africa’s Twin Engines: How Nigeria–South Africa Relations Can Position Africa as a Global Middle Power,” brought together key public and private sector leaders to explore strategies for deepening bilateral cooperation and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to accelerate continental integration.
Organised under the auspices of South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and supported by the Lagos State Government, the roundtable aimed to translate shared intent into actionable cross-border collaboration.
Speaking at the event, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, described Lagos as Africa’s “commercial nerve centre where trade, talent, and technology intersect.” He emphasized that strengthening ties between Nigeria and South Africa was essential not only for both economies but for the continent’s collective progress.
“As Africa’s most populous nation and one of its most dynamic economies, Nigeria’s collaboration with South Africa has the power to shape the continent’s trajectory for decades to come,” Hamzat stated.
From the South African delegation, Her Excellency Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, underscored the importance of moving beyond shared history toward practical collaboration.
“Nigeria and South Africa share not just a history of solidarity but a future of shared responsibility,” she said. “The AfCFTA gives us the platform; our partnership must give it life.”
For Dr. Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, the roundtable reflected MTN’s ongoing commitment to advancing Africa’s shared prosperity through digital infrastructure and innovation.
“When South Africa and Nigeria act together, we can transform shared potential into measurable progress,” Toriola remarked. “MTN will continue to provide the digital infrastructure, platforms, and partnerships needed to make this collaboration real.”
A panel session featuring Dr. Hamzat, Deputy Minister Moraka, Dr. Toriola, and Dr. Babatunde Ayeye, Executive Chairman of IFS Group, outlined key initiatives to operationalize the discussions. These include:
- A Nigeria–South Africa standards and e-certification pilot under AfCFTA to streamline trade compliance.
- A cross-border SME payments corridor using digital payment systems to ease transactions.
- A talent mobility framework to facilitate the exchange of scarce digital skills between both nations.
As the evening concluded against the Lagos skyline, the tone was one of renewed optimism and shared purpose. Participants agreed that Africa’s ascent on the global stage would depend not on competition, but on cooperation — driven by trust, trade, and technology.
For MTN Nigeria, the roundtable reaffirmed the private sector’s pivotal role in shaping Africa’s future. Through sustained investments in connectivity, innovation ecosystems, and regional partnerships, the company continues to serve as a catalyst for continental growth.
“When Nigeria and South Africa move in rhythm,” one participant observed, “Africa doesn’t just follow — it leads.”
