MTN Nigeria Champions Economic Diplomacy Between Nigeria and South Africa

 

MTN Nigeria Champions Economic Diplomacy Between Nigeria and South Africa

…..At the Rooftop of Ideas, Lagos Hosts a New Chapter of African Collaboration

 

MTN Nigeria transformed its iconic rooftop into a hub of high-level dialogue and pan-African ambition. It wasn’t just another corporate event — it was a meeting of minds and missions, where policymakers, business leaders, and diplomats from Nigeria and South Africa gathered to discuss the future of Africa’s economic powerhouses.

The event, themed “Africa’s Twin Engines: How Nigeria–South Africa Relations Can Position Africa as a Global Middle Power,” was more than a diplomatic nicety. It was a statement — that Africa’s progress must now be driven not just by governments, but by the partnership between the public and private sectors.

Organised under the auspices of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa and supported by the Lagos State Government, the roundtable set its sights on one ambitious goal: to transform intent into action through concrete cross-border collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

 

Lagos: The Beating Heart of African Commerce

Taking the stage, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, painted a picture of Lagos not merely as a city but as Africa’s economic heartbeat — where enterprise, innovation, and resilience converge.

“Lagos remains Africa’s commercial nerve centre where trade, talent, and technology intersect,” he said with characteristic conviction. “Strengthening South Africa–Nigeria cooperation is not only strategic for both economies; it is essential for the continent’s collective progress.”

For Hamzat, the message was clear: as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its most dynamic economies, Nigeria’s collaboration with South Africa has the power to shape the continent’s trajectory for decades to come.

Beyond Diplomacy: Building Bridges that Work

From the South African side, Her Excellency Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, struck a tone both pragmatic and visionary. While the two nations share a history steeped in solidarity — from anti-colonial support to post-apartheid partnerships — she stressed that the next chapter must be about delivery.

“Nigeria and South Africa share not just a history of solidarity but a future of shared responsibility,” she affirmed. “As Africa’s twin engines of growth, our task is to move beyond rhetoric and drive practical collaboration — policies that align, systems that connect, and opportunities that empower our people. The AfCFTA gives us the platform; our partnership must give it life.”

Her remarks resonated deeply across the room, echoing the sentiment that Africa’s greatest untapped resource is not its minerals or markets, but its ability to work together.

MTN’s Mission: From Connectivity to Collaboration

For Dr. Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, the event represented more than corporate social engagement — it was about fulfilling MTN’s role as a catalyst for Africa’s shared prosperity.

“We meet for a simple purpose — to turn intent into execution,” he declared. “When South Africa and Nigeria act together, we can transform shared potential into measurable progress. MTN will continue to provide the digital infrastructure, platforms, and partnerships needed to make this collaboration real.”

As Africa’s largest telecom group with roots in both nations, MTN occupies a unique space in the continent’s economic narrative — one that transcends connectivity to drive inclusion, trade facilitation, and innovation.

From Words to Work: The Roundtable’s Action Plan

The discussions culminated in a dynamic panel session featuring Dr. Hamzat, Deputy Minister Moraka, Dr. Toriola, and Dr. Babatunde Ayeye, Founder and Executive Chairman of IFS Group.
Together, they charted a roadmap that moves beyond talk into measurable action points, including:

• A Nigeria–South Africa standards and e-certification pilot under AfCFTA to simplify trade compliance.
• A cross-border SME payments corridor powered by digital payment rails to enable seamless business transactions.
• A talent mobility framework designed to recognize and exchange scarce digital skills between the two nations.

Each initiative reflects a vision of an Africa that is connected not only by technology but by trust, talent, and trade.

A New Dawn for African Cooperation

By the end of the evening, as the city lights shimmered beneath the Lagos skyline, the atmosphere felt distinctly hopeful. The Nigeria–South Africa Economic Diplomacy Roundtable wasn’t just a talk shop; it was a moment of reckoning — a reminder that Africa’s ascent on the global stage depends on its ability to collaborate internally.

For MTN Nigeria, the event reaffirmed its belief that the private sector holds a critical stake in shaping the continent’s destiny. By investing in digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and cross-border partnerships, MTN continues to play the role of enabler — turning ambition into achievement.

“When Nigeria and South Africa move in rhythm,” one participant mused, “Africa doesn’t just follow — it leads.”

In the End, a Shared Vision

The Lagos roundtable closed not with fanfare, but with focus — a renewed determination that Africa’s twin engines will drive not competition, but cooperation; not isolation, but integration.

And at the centre of that journey stands a company that understands the continent’s pulse — connecting not just networks, but nations.