Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing trade, investment, and innovation partnerships with Nigeria and the wider African continent, positioning itself as a strategic partner for Africa’s growth agenda.
This assurance was given by Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, during his address at the 7th edition of the Mentor Matchup Challenge (MMC 7.0), a two-day Pan-African entrepreneurship and investment summit convened by 234Finance.
Speaking to an audience of over 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and business leaders, Rojas-Arbulú commended the scale and impact of the platform, noting that MMC’s growing influence reflects the kind of private-sector-led engagement that drives sustainable economic transformation.
“Platforms like this create space for meaningful conversations that matter to entrepreneurs, to industries, and to the future of this continent,” he said, describing MMC as an initiative that is “moving the needle” by empowering businesses and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
The Deputy High Commissioner highlighted Canada’s interest in strengthening partnerships across innovation, education, services, and equipment, noting that Nigeria and Africa remain key to Canada’s global engagement strategy. According to him, Canada sees itself as a “partner of choice” for African businesses seeking global market access, investment, and long-term collaboration.
Rojas-Arbulú also underscored the depth of existing ties between both countries, citing a growing Nigerian-Canadian diaspora community of over 115,000 people, as well as more than 20,000 Nigerian students who study in Canada annually. He described these communities as critical bridges driving business, cultural exchange, and investment flows between both nations.
He further pointed to the expanding influence of Nigeria’s creative economy, noting Canada’s emergence as a leading destination for Nigerian artists, including Afrobeats stars; a development he said reflects deeper cultural and commercial linkages between both countries.
“These individuals are connecting the dots—creating business opportunities, attracting investment, and strengthening how Canadians and Nigerians see one another,” he noted.
Beyond private-sector engagement, Rojas-Arbulú emphasized Canada’s interest in advancing conversations around bilateral agreements, trade facilitation, and investment flows with both government and business stakeholders. He reaffirmed the Canadian High Commission’s openness to continued dialogue with entrepreneurs and institutions emerging from the MMC platform.
In closing, he praised 234Finance team and its founder, Ezinne Nwazulu for convening the summit for the seventh consecutive year, describing the event as a valuable catalyst for partnership-building and diplomacy.
“We look forward to being part of this conversation in the years to come,” he said, inviting deeper Canadian participation in future editions of the Mentor Matchup Challenge.
