A new business organization, US Nigeria Council (USNC) is set to advance diversification and job creation in Nigeria.
The council aims to create partnerships between Nigerian and American businesses and forge a backbone of strong US-Nigeria relations and also the boasts of young entrepreneurs who have started companies in technology, agri-business, e-commerce and education, including Tomato Jos, Mall for Africa and Andela.
John Coumantaros, Chairman of Flour Mills Nigeria Plc (FMN) and Uche Orji CEO, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), hosted the launching of the council by the leaders of Nigerian and American businesses in Lagos.
John Coumantaros, stressing the aim of the Council, noted that the US Nigeria Council has been formed to bring US and Nigerian businesses together in developing catalytic projects that will develop capacity and accelerate economic diversification in Nigeria.
He further stated that this Council is unique among Councils because it is business to business focused.
“The councils aim is to develop partnerships, investments, and develop capacity in the agro-allied and food, infrastructure, oil and gas, and technology sectors”, said john
Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) , emphasized that the council is timely and a useful intervention towards the diversification of Nigeria’s economy and pledged his ongoing support.
“USNC which already has an office in Washington DC, will establish an office in Lagos in the coming month, these offices will support US companies that want to invest in the Nigerian market and Nigerian companies seeking partners and financial backers in the United States”.
“The Council will measure its success by the strength of the partnerships formed, investments generated, capacity developed, jobs created, and exporting relationships made”, said Emefiele.
On his part, Uche Orji, described the work of the Council as building a much-needed bridge of trust between US and Nigerian companies and creating a pipeline of new projects for investors that advance the development goals of Nigeria over the short, medium and long term.
Stuart Symington, US the Ambassador to Nigeria, in his remarks, noted that the Council would play a leading role in further strengthening the good ties between the two countries
The launch dinner was attended by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; the US Counsel General, John Bray; and leaders of Nigeria’s blue chip companies and major US investors.
The commitment of Nigerian businesses to USNC was demonstrated by the active participation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group, Oba Oteduko of Honeywell Group, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank, Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank, Akinsowon Dawodu of Citibank Nigeria, Adewale TInubu of Oando, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede of WAPIC, Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group and others.
US businesses was represented by senior executives Dow Chemical Company, Chevron, UPS, Procter & Gamble, ExxonMobil and Uber, Coca Cola and 7Up through their bottlers. Among the leading investors at the event were Emerging Capital Partners, Development Partners International, Greenwish Capital and The Carlyle Group.
Anthonia Obokoh
