Ottawa — Canada’s Member of Parliament Rob Oliphant has reaffirmed the deepening bond between Canada and Nigeria, describing it as a “growing partnership rooted in trade, innovation, and people-to-people ties.”
Oliphant made the remark in Ottawa at the Nigeria–Canada Partnerships Trade and Investment Conference (NCPTIC 2025), where government officials, investors, and entrepreneurs from both countries convened to chart a new course for bilateral cooperation.
“Canada and Nigeria share a growing partnership rooted in trade, innovation, and people-to-people ties. Glad to attend the Nigeria–Canada Partnerships, Trade & Investment Conference 2025 to discuss Canada’s Africa Strategy and new opportunities for collaboration”
Held from October 29 to 31 at the historic Fairmont Château Laurier, the conference brought together more than two hundred delegates to explore avenues for sustainable economic growth under the theme “Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Investment for Sustainable Economic Growth.”
Organized by the Nigerian and Canadian Business Network (NCBN), the forum underscored both nations’ determination to build an equitable partnership that leverages innovation, shared expertise, and the strength of the Nigerian diaspora in Canada.
A Milestone Moment for Bilateral Relations
Jointly organised by the Nigerian and Canadian Business Network (NCBN), NCPTIC 2025 brought together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and academics eager to deepen commercial and cultural ties between the two nations.
For Nigeria — Africa’s largest economy and a regional trade hub — the event reinforced the push to diversify beyond oil while courting Canadian investment in agriculture, renewable energy, education, and infrastructure.
For Canada — a G7 economy with deep expertise in technology, clean energy, and financial systems — Nigeria offers a dynamic gateway into the African market and its youthful, innovation-driven workforce.
Trade data already reveal momentum. In 2023, bilateral merchandise trade reached C$3.6 billion, making Nigeria Canada’s largest African trading partner. Canada imported C$3 billion in mineral oils, fuels, and cocoa, while exporting C$579 million worth of cereals, fertilizers, and motor vehicles. Nigerian direct investment in Canada stood at C$1.7 billion in 2021 — a figure analysts expect to climb after this conference.
The Diaspora Dividend
Beyond trade statistics, the conference acknowledged the vital role of the Nigerian diaspora in Canada, now one of the country’s fastest-growing immigrant communities.
From Calgary bakeries to Toronto tech start-ups and Vancouver real-estate ventures, Nigerians have become integral to Canada’s entrepreneurial fabric. Their presence formed a human bridge—connecting ideas, talent, and capital across both economies.
“Diaspora professionals are uniquely positioned to interpret two worlds,” said an NCBN representative. “They understand the Canadian market’s discipline and the Nigerian market’s dynamism. NCPTIC 2025 was about fusing those strengths.”
Panels on “The Diaspora as Catalysts for Trade and Innovation” and “Financing Across Borders” explored how remittances, digital banking, and diaspora investment groups can evolve from personal transfers to structured capital flows. The discussions reflected a growing consensus: diaspora capital is not charity—it’s strategy.
Focus Sectors: From Energy to Education
Participants examined partnerships across six priority sectors—energy, agriculture, ICT, infrastructure, manufacturing, and financial services. Canadian clean-energy firms sought joint ventures with Nigerian renewables companies, while agricultural innovators explored collaborations on crop technology and climate-smart farming.
Education also featured prominently. With thousands of Nigerian students in Canadian universities, institutions from Ontario and Alberta discussed scholarship frameworks and exchange programs designed to build capacity back home and retain global talent.
These conversations reflected the larger vision behind NCPTIC 2025: turning goodwill into concrete projects, memoranda of understanding, and business deals that can outlive political cycles.
Building on Past Collaborations
Although this was the inaugural edition of NCPTIC, it did not emerge in a vacuum. It builds on previous joint efforts such as the 2021 Canada-Nigeria Energy Summit and the 2023 AgriTech Exchange Program — initiatives that paved the way for a more institutionalized framework for economic dialogue.
The conference also echoed Canada’s broader Africa Strategy, which emphasises sustainable development, climate action, and inclusive growth. By aligning with these priorities, Nigeria positions itself as a strategic partner in Canada’s expanding African footprint.
A Vision for the Future
Held against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and supply-chain restructuring, NCPTIC 2025 sent a clear message: both countries see each other not as aid recipients or donors, but as equal partners in prosperity.
With Africa projected to host one in five consumers worldwide by 2030, the timing could not be better. As Canadian businesses seek diverse markets and Nigerian enterprises look to internationalize, this conference is set to become a cornerstone of bilateral economic diplomacy.
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