•Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for deeper trade, investment, and cultural ties between Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking virtually during the launch of the Congo–Nigeria Friendship Foundation (CNFF) in Lagos, the ex-president said the initiative represents a vital step towards strengthening intra-African collaboration and realising the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
He described the CNFF as a strategic platform capable of unlocking trillion-dollar opportunities across both nations and across Africa, reports The Nation.
“We need every effort to bring trade and business from one part of Africa to another. We must understand what our continent produces and needs. Instead of looking outward, we should first exhaust the wealth and opportunities within Africa,” Obasanjo said.
The former president noted that the initiative aligns with Africa’s drive for increased intra-continental trade, a key priority for leaders seeking to reduce dependence on foreign markets.
Obasanjo, who is the Chairman of the Intra-African Trade Fair, said the foundation’s mission complements broader efforts to expand trade and investment flows across Africa.
The ex-president urged entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to leverage shared strengths in natural resources, human capital, and innovation.
Calling for unity and sustained engagement, Obasanjo described the CNFF as “a bridge of friendship and prosperity between two great African nations”.
He added: “Let us know our continent better and work together to transform it. Long live Congo–Nigeria friendship.”
The CNFF, founded by a former UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Regional Director, Jean Bakole, seeks to foster strategic partnerships between Africa’s two most resource-endowed nations, leveraging Congo’s mineral wealth and Nigeria’s economic dynamism.
Bakole said the partnership marked a new frontier for intra-African trade, industrial collaboration, and people-to-people connections.
“Congo is the richest country in Africa in terms of mineral resources — holding about 70 per cent of the world’s cobalt reserves — while Nigeria remains the continent’s leading economy. Together, we can build sustainable industries, create jobs, and retain Africa’s wealth within the continent,” he said.
The CNFF founder urged Nigerian investors to explore opportunities in Congo’s mining and manufacturing sectors, noting that Asian firms currently dominate the landscape.
Bakole announced that the second CNFF launch will be held in Kinshasa, the DRC capital, next year, where joint projects in energy, finance, trade, and culture will be unveiled.
He also highlighted cultural similarities — Nigeria’s 250 ethnic groups and Congo’s 450 — as proof of shared richness and potential for cooperation.
Bakole and CNFF members urged Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo to champion the initiative and drive it to success.
“When Nigeria’s capital meets Congo’s resources, both nations stand to gain immensely,” he stated.
The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Francis Meshioye, said the initiative represented “a turning point for African enterprise built on trust, trade, and transformation”.
He added: “The DRC provides the raw power of resources, and Nigeria offers the industrial engine. Together, we can rewrite Africa’s trade story — from extract-and-export to mine-and-manufacture.”
A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, described the CNFF’s private sector-driven model as “a forward-thinking approach” that complements government efforts in promoting sustainable development.
DRC Ambassador to Nigeria, Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening economic and trade ties.
The envoy noted that both nations possess immense potential to leverage the AfCFTA for industrial diversification.
“Beyond minerals, our cooperation must extend to building resilient value chains, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting industrial and technological partnerships,” she said.
Industry experts believe the CNFF could catalyse regional value chains, opening new markets for Nigerian and Congolese businesses while deepening industrialisation and cultural exchange.
