By Ijeoma Popoola
Canada has announced more than $30 million new support for initiatives in Nigeria and across West Africa.
The Secretary of State for International Development, Canada, Mr Randeep Sarai, announced this at a reception organised in his honour by the Canadian Deputy High Commission on Friday night in Lagos.
Sarai said the initiatives would strengthen health systems, expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs and small businesses, while advancing climate resilience and deepening cooperation in governance.
He added that the initiatives would strengthen digital resilience and access to justice.
“Together they will help to build more inclusive and resilient institutions and economies across the region,” he said.
The secretary of state also announced that the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business would organise a Canada-Nigeria Business Conference in Lagos in June.
“We look forward to bringing Canadian companies to the conference to engage with Nigeria’s private and public sectors,” he said.
He said Canada’s engagement in Nigeria reflected a broader vision for Canada’s relationship with Africa.
Sarai said such a vision was grounded in the understanding that the next chapter of global growth would be shaped as much in Lagos, Nairobi and Accra as in London, New York and Toronto.
“The centre of gravity of the global economy is shifting, and Canada is ready to help to shape that future together,” he said.
Sarai, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time, said he had already formed a strong impression of the country particularly in the ‘warmth and hospitality’ of its people.
He said Canada’s priorities in Africa lied on partnership, trade and mutual growth.
“Central to that is Nigeria.
“With over three billion dollars in bilateral trade last year and plenty of opportunities for growth, Nigeria stands as Canada’s second largest trading partner in Africa,” Sarai said.
He said Nigeria’s relationship with Canada was deeper than trade, as thousands of Nigerians studied or were living in Canada.
“That friendship is really deep, and that makes Nigeria a strategic gateway for Canadian businesses and a natural partner,” he said.
Sarai also said that Nigeria’s priorities aligned closely with areas where Canada’s expertise was deep – infrastructure, agriculture, clean energy, health, digital innovation and mining.
‘’However, in a more uncertain world, expertise is only half the equation. Countries are looking for partners they can rely on. Partners that show up and follow through.
“That kind of partnership is what Canada wants and sees in Nigeria,” Sarai said.
Sarai added that Canada understood that sustainable economic growth depended on strong foundations.
“That means access to financing, a skilled and healthy workforce, transparent institutions, climate resilience, and more opportunities for women and youth to achieve their full potential.”
He expressed satisfaction that Canada’s longstanding international partnership with Nigeria had continued to help to support small businesses and strengthen local governance and health systems.
He said such partnerships had also expanded opportunities for women and youth, built climate resilience, and improved skills training.
“These are the kind of partnerships that Canada is here to help to build, and in this new era of development, the challenges require all of us – development finance institutions, multinationals, and the private sector,” he said.
Sarai said competitiveness depended not just on what countries produced, but on the strength of its institutions, infrastructure, and partnerships.
Sarai urged Artificial Intelligence in a healthy framework to make lives better, not replace them.
The Coordinator of Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, Mr Toye Abioye, said the business conference would take place on June 24.
Abioye urged adequate participation of Nigeria’s business community and its Canadian counterpart. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
