Chairman of Cavista Holdings and Corporate Council on Africa, Niyi John Olajide has called on African leaders to close ranks and create enabling business environments that facilitate cross-border investment and economic integration across the continent.
Olajide, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the 10th Anniversary Installation of the Ooni of Ife at his palace on Monday, he emphasised that Africa’s economic future depends on nations moving beyond rhetoric to establish practical frameworks for regional cooperation and private sector growth.
The historic ceremony, hosted by His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, witnessed Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama being conferred with the chieftaincy title of Aare Atayeto of Oodua. The event drew former President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi; the Chairman of Dangote Group, Dr. Aliko Dangote; the Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero, and other prominent African leaders and business figures.
Olajide argued that Africa’s 1.4 billion people and combined GDP of over $3 trillion remain underutilised due to fragmented markets and restrictive cross-border business policies.
He said: ‘Nigeria’s prosperity is inextricably linked to Ghana’s success. Progress in one African nation creates opportunity across the continent. We must eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that discourage regional investment and make it easier for African businesses to operate across our borders’.
The Chairman specifically commended business leaders like Dangote who have expanded investments across African borders, demonstrating the viability of pan-African enterprise.
He challenged African governments to move beyond declarations to concrete action—streamlined regulations, transparent investment frameworks, reduced trade barriers, and protected property rights.
Olajide emphasised: ‘Africa’s young population deserves leadership that creates business-friendly environments. The African Continental Free Trade Area represents tremendous potential, but its promise will only be realized through deliberate action, such as ensuring harmonized standards, efficient customs procedures, and predictable business regulations’.
He highlighted the Nigeria-Ghana relationship as a template for broader African economic cooperation. He said: ‘The time for Nigeria and Ghana to deepen their economic partnership is now. What we build between Accra and Lagos can become the blueprint for the entire continent.
‘This is not only an economic imperative; it is a moral one. I urge all stakeholders — Heads of State, investors, and business communities — to deepen partnerships and work together for an Africa that is prosperous, peaceful, and globally competitive’.
The Ooni of Ife corroborated this vision, calling for deepening historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Ghana while emphasizing economic cooperation for citizens’ benefit.
Guided by the belief that business is a force for good, Cavista Holdings is a global investment and holding company committed to creating value and transforming lives through strategic investments.
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