The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has stated that recalibrating Africa’s risk perception and rebuilding the Germany-Nigeria industrial and investment corridor are crucial to attracting long-term capital from Europe.
This was part of the key outcomes from a high-level Executive Round Table hosted by the European financial institution ODDO BHF in collaboration with the law firm Aluko & Oyebode, held in Lagos.
The session, themed , ‘The Africa-Europe Trade and Investment Corridor: Where Capital Meets Opportunity’, brought together senior representatives of government, diplomacy, financial institutions and the organised private sector.
The national president of NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim said the global shift in capital flows requires a deliberate ‘Push and Pull’ strategy.
“While European financial institutions and investors provide the market pull, Nigerian businesses and institutions must proactively develop and present credible, bankable and investment-ready commercial pipelines capable of absorbing long-term capital,” Ibrahim stated.
In a keynote presentation, the managing director, International Banking and Member of the Group Business Executive Committee of ODDO BHF, Mr Florian Witt, reaffirmed the bank’s long-term commitment to Africa.
He disclosed a €200 million dedicated fund for sustainable forestry, community infrastructure and carbon-credit opportunities, as part of ODDO BHF’s focus on carbon capture, reforestation and sustainable development.
Other key outcomes from the deliberations include strengthening financial sovereignty and indigenous banking capacity, mobilising capital for digital infrastructure and data residency, and expanding green finance to support Africa’s climate transition.
To institutionalise the partnership, NACCIMA, ODDO BHF and private-sector stakeholders agreed to advance discussions on an ECA-backed Digital and Trade Infrastructure Financing Facility.
The proposed facility is intended to support strategic digital and trade infrastructure, manufacturing excluding defence, agro-processing, and solid minerals beneficiation. It is also expected to facilitate cross-border commerce, strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and help close critical infrastructure gaps limiting industrial and economic growth.
“NACCIMA reaffirms its commitment to working with international financial institutions, development partners, government agencies and the organised private sector to transform Nigeria’s investment opportunities into bankable projects, productive capital and measurable economic outcomes,” Ibrahim said.
The round table emphasised the need to convert investor interest into structured transactions backed by appropriate risk frameworks, credible project preparation, transparent governance and strong institutional partnerships.
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