By Jonathan Lois
From electricity generation and renewable energy to agricultural exports, mining, fashion and affordable housing, Nigerian entrepreneurs used a meeting with a United States business delegation to showcase investment opportunities and seek partnerships that could deepen economic relations between both countries.
Nigerian entrepreneurs are seeking stronger business partnerships with American investors, identifying opportunities in electricity generation, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, renewable energy, real estate and other critical sectors of the economy.
At a brief meeting involving the Nigeria-USA Parliamentary Friendship Committee, a visiting United States chamber of commerce business delegation and Nigerian business leaders, the entrepreneurs presented investment opportunities in their respective industries and called for greater collaboration in technology transfer, financing, market access and industrial development.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Nigerian businesses to engage directly with American representatives on how parliamentary diplomacy and bilateral economic relations could translate into tangible commercial opportunities.
Chairman of House of Reps parliamentary friendship delegation Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, said the National Assembly was committed to creating a business environment supported by predictable laws, effective institutions, respect for contracts and transparent regulatory processes.
He said investors were more likely to commit capital to economies where taxation was predictable, legitimate business interests were protected and regulatory procedures were clear.
Onuakalusi noted that the legislature had a responsibility to go beyond regulating economic activities by enacting laws that stimulate enterprise, encourage productivity, create employment and support national development.
He cited the recent tax reforms as an example of legislative efforts to modernise Nigeria’s economic framework, improve tax compliance and simplify administration, while stressing the importance of effective implementation and engagement with the private sector.
The lawmaker also highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing Nigeria-US economic relations, recalling engagements with the US Chamber of Commerce during a visit to the United States in May 2025.
According to him, discussions with American institutions, including the US Congress and the Department of State, had also touched on the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides preferential access for eligible African products to the American market.
He said continued access to AGOA could support Nigeria’s export diversification, manufacturing expansion and participation in international value chains, while creating commercial opportunities for American importers and investors.
The committee, he added, had also engaged with the Congressional Black Caucus and business representatives in Georgia, with a view to encouraging Nigerians in the diaspora and interested American investors to explore opportunities in Nigeria.
Onuakalusi described the Nigerian diaspora as an important bridge between the two countries, with the potential to connect investment capital, professional expertise, technology and international business networks.
He disclosed that the committee was proposing a business summit in Atlanta in collaboration with the Congressional Black Caucus to explore investment partnerships and business development opportunities.
The lawmaker further appealed to the US Chamber of Commerce to lend its voice to concerns surrounding restrictions affecting Nigerians seeking B1/B2 business and visitor visas to the United States.
He argued that restrictions on business travel could make it difficult for Nigerian entrepreneurs to establish relationships, explore investment opportunities and sustain commercial engagements with American counterparts.
Beyond the policy discussions, the meeting offered a glimpse into the diversity of Nigerian businesses seeking to expand their operations and establish international partnerships.
In the power sector, the Board Chairman of Plateau State Energy Corporation presented opportunities for American investors to participate in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
He said the state had taken steps towards developing its electricity market following the constitutional and regulatory changes allowing states to participate in the power sector.
The company is seeking investors capable of supporting the development of electricity infrastructure, particularly in a country where inadequate power supply continues to constrain industrial productivity and economic growth.
Similarly, Fabian Nene, Group Managing Director of Signature Global Services Limited, identified opportunities in solar energy, construction and agriculture, while Ken Opara, Managing Director of Power System Automation Solutions Limited, said his company was interested in partnerships involving power system design and integration.
Opara also highlighted opportunities in the mining industry, particularly the production of granite and marble, noting that Nigeria’s mineral resources offered considerable potential for exports.
Ifeanyi Mapia, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Gate Group, said his company was already providing services to major power generation companies, including the supply of spare parts and specialised technical support.
He disclosed that the group had expanded into mining and was exploring technology-driven solutions through existing international partnerships, including collaborations involving European and Asian companies.
Agriculture and export development also featured prominently in the presentations.
Dr Onyinye Queen Ogwa, founder of Women in Agri-Business International Trade and Export, said her organisation was working to prepare Nigerian women and young people for participation in international trade.
She disclosed that the organisation was developing a trade house in the United States to facilitate the entry of Nigerian agricultural products into the American market.
Ogwa said the initiative would help educate local producers on export requirements and provide opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs to participate in cross-border commerce.
Mojisola Oyebanda, founder of Oluwa Lase Farm, identified inadequate testing facilities and compliance challenges as some of the obstacles confronting Nigerian agricultural exporters.
She said her organisation was developing a Global Trace Lab to help manufacturers and small businesses test agricultural products and ensure they meet international standards before, during and after production.
According to her, the facility would address some of the difficulties encountered by Nigerian products in foreign markets, including consignments rejected or returned because of quality and compliance issues.
She called for partnerships involving technology, technical expertise, consultancy and investment to establish the proposed facility.
Adobe Ikoku, representing Farmforte Exports, also highlighted the importance of strengthening agricultural value chains, explaining that the company works with farmers, particularly women and young people, to produce goods that meet international export standards.
In the manufacturing sector, Nnamdi Daniels, founder and equity director of Zilla Daniels Couture and Jackie King, showcased Nigeria’s capacity in high-end garment production and fashion manufacturing.
He said the companies represented opportunities for collaboration in the country’s growing fashion and garment industry.
The real estate and infrastructure sector was represented by Chidera Omalu, Chief Executive Officer of Apex Real Estate Investment Solutions Limited, who said the company was focused on construction, infrastructure development and providing affordable housing for Nigerians.
Other business leaders identified opportunities in financial services, trade exhibitions, automotive manufacturing and energy access.
Engr. Innocent Ogu, President and Chief Executive Officer of African Legacy International Media Services Limited, offered to facilitate trade exhibitions, industrial fairs and commercial expos between Nigeria and the United States.
Prince Adezak Lekki, representing a financial institution, expressed interest in partnerships that would promote innovation and improve financial services, while ESV Ekechukwu Okey-King, a former director of Zenith Bank and former Vice Chairman of the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of building institutional and commercial bridges between businesses in both countries.
Comrade Hussain Abba, Managing Director of Hassina Nigerian Limited, said his company was involved in sourcing energy solutions for low-income earners and was interested in establishing partnerships with American businesses.
Frank Ceko, Lead Consultant of Innocent Group, meanwhile, outlined an ambition to promote Nigerian-made automobiles among Africans in the diaspora, inviting the American delegation to visit the group’s facility in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Responding, a representative of the American delegation said the sectors highlighted by the Nigerian entrepreneurs aligned with areas already identified by the US Chamber of Commerce and its partners as priorities for strategic engagement.
These include agriculture, trade infrastructure, financial services and other areas with potential for mutually beneficial commercial partnerships.
The representative recalled the longstanding relationship between American and Nigerian businesses, particularly the role played by Zenith Bank as a founding member of the US-Africa Business Center when it was formally launched in 2015.
The American delegation welcomed the opportunity to connect with Nigerian business leaders and promised to facilitate further engagement, including linking participants with relevant business contacts in Lagos.
The representative also assured the Nigerian delegation that the visit would not be the last, expressing optimism about continued exchanges and opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs to visit the United States.
The engagement underscores the growing interest in using parliamentary diplomacy to connect policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs across national boundaries.
However, the business proposals presented at the meeting also point to the work required to translate interest into concrete outcomes.
Access to finance, reliable infrastructure, technology, export certification, regulatory certainty and easier business travel remain important considerations for companies seeking to operate across international markets.
For Nigerian businesses, the prospect of American partnerships offers access to capital, technical expertise and larger markets. For American investors, the opportunities span a range of sectors in Africa’s largest economy.
Whether the engagement produces lasting results will depend on the ability of both sides to move beyond introductions and establish practical arrangements that connect investors with credible businesses, facilitate transactions and support the growth of commercial enterprises.
The Leader of the House of Reps Hon. Julius Ihonvbere observed in his remarks, Nigeria offers significant opportunities for manufacturers and investors willing to explore its market. The challenge now is to create the conditions that will enable those opportunities to translate into sustainable investments, jobs and economic growth.
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