Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been appointed as the vice president of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), an interest group established to promote trade and investment by facilitating engagement between government and the private sector within the Commonwealth.
Oliver Everett, CEO of CWEIC, disclosed the appointment during a meeting with a group of Nigerian businessmen at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja.
According to Everett, Ambode would be in office alongside Jeffrey Mountevans, the Lord Mayor of the city of London as co-vice president of the council for the next one year, subject to renewal for another year.
Everett, who was in Nigeria to talk with small business owners on investment opportunities within the Commonwealth nations, especially in Europe, said the appointment of Ambode was an indication that Nigeria and Lagos were open for serious investment.
The meeting with a select group of small business owners was facilitated by the office of the special adviser on Oversees Affairs and Investment also known as Lagos Global to promote investments in Lagos.
Explaining to the small business owners the investment opportunities in Europe, Everett advised them to avoid production of sugary drinks, saying a lot of people in Europe were now avoiding such drinks because of obesity, and would rather prefer natural drinks.
The Commonwealth CWEIC was established in July 2014 with the support of the Commonwealth secretariat. It is a not for profit membership company with a mandate to facilitate increased trade and investment across the Commonwealth.
CWEIC is the apex organisation representing private sector businesses within the Commonwealth and is the only institution with a remit to promote intra-Commonwealth trade and investment.
