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By Zika Bobby
Spurred by record bilateral trade reaching $3.2 billion in 2025 and the prospect of direct flights on the horizon, a new private-sector drive is setting out to convert diplomatic and economic momentum into real-world transactions.
Leading the push is the Canada–Nigeria Trade Bridge 2027, a two-city initiative organised by Babsomo Communications and Naija Market Day (NMD) scheduled for Lagos and Abuja in February and March, 2027 respectively.
Centered on the theme: “Connecting Markets. Creating Opportunities.”, the two-day event pairs an export readiness summit with a dedicated Canada Trade Show. The summit will cover market entry requirements, product standards, food safety, packaging, customs clearance, and trade finance, while the trade show facilitates business-to-business (B2B) networking across key sectors, including agriculture, technology, manufacturing, clean tech, and financial services.
Strengthening Connectivity and Institutional Synergy
Economic momentum between both nations has grown steadily, establishing Nigeria as Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. Commercial engagement is set to accelerate further following the expanded Air Transport Agreement reached in August 2026, with Air Canada signaling plans to introduce direct service to Lagos in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.
Organisers emphasise that the initiative is designed to complement—rather than duplicate—existing export and investment promotion efforts by Nigerian public and private bodies.
Abiodun Adetu, Naija Market Day Representative, said the initiative was informed by the organisation’s experience working with businesses across Canada.
“Our experience working with more than 1,000 businesses across Canada has shown us that entrepreneurs are looking beyond their immediate markets, but they need the right information, relationships and support to expand. We recognise the important work already being done by Nigerian institutions to strengthen exports and enterprise development. Our intention is to complement that work by creating another platform connecting businesses to Canadian opportunities and meaningful commercial relationships,” she said.
Rashidat Arowolo, Babsomo Communications Representative, highlighted the importance of building relationships between businesses and institutions.
“International trade requires collaboration. Businesses need access to relevant information, trusted relationships and the right industry connections. We want to create an environment where Canadian and Nigerian businesses can engage meaningfully, while working closely with local professionals and organisations whose knowledge is essential to the success of this initiative,” she noted.
Engr. Emmanuel Dada, Abuja Representative of the Initiative, described Nigeria’s entrepreneurial capacity as an important foundation for stronger international trade participation.
“Nigeria has tremendous commercial potential and a strong entrepreneurial community. Our focus is to connect this capacity with international opportunities, particularly in Canada. We look forward to engaging Nigerian businesses, government agencies, trade associations and industry professionals to build a platform that delivers practical value to both markets,” he said.
Key institutional stakeholders supporting trade development include: government agencies: Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC); Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); SMEDAN; Bank of Industry (BOI); Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); and Nigeria Customs Service.
Industry Associations: NACCIMA, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and NASME.
Beyond the 2027 summits, organisers aim to establish the Canada–Nigeria Trade Bridge as a permanent platform for bilateral commercial engagement, guiding enterprises from export preparation to finalised trade agreements.
