Onome Amuge
Jani Ibrahim, the national president of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has made an appeal to Africans in the diaspora to look toward Nigeria as a home base and launching pad for investments and cultural reconnection.
Ibrahim delivered this call recently at the grand opening of the IPADA Initiatives Celebrations 2025, held at La Campagne Tropicana Forest, River and Beach Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
In a goodwill message that doubled as a roadmap of private-sector expectations for Nigeria’s economic future, Ibrahim commended Olawanle Akinboboye, the founder of La Campagne Tropicana and IPADA Initiatives, for his decades-long commitment to advancing African unity, tourism and the creative economy.
According to Ibrahim, Akinboboye’s work (spanning more than 40 years), has contributed significantly to reshaping Africa’s cultural narrative and positioning Nigeria as a key hub for tourism and creative enterprise. “This wonderful vision and initiatives that he has put up are indeed worthy of commendation. Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye is also the Chairperson of the NACCIMA Creative Economy, and we in NACCIMA recognize the tremendous value of the work he is doing,” he said.
The NACCIMA president used the occasion to highlight the strategic role of the creative sector in Nigeria’s quest to achieve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Ibrahim emphasised that the creative industry, covering music, film, fashion, digital content, festivals and theatre, remains Nigeria’s lowest-hanging fruit with the capacity to quickly scale the country’s global recognition and economic output.
“We are convinced and confident that one of the major contributors to the economy is the creative sector. That is why I am particularly supportive of all that the sector can do. It is the lowest-hanging fruit for all of us. Be it music, theatre or content creation, we need to get it going quickly, as these platforms showcase Nigeria internationally in a positive light,” he noted.
Ibrahim, who heads Nigeria’s largest private sector umbrella body with over 100 chambers of commerce nationwide, stressed that Nigerian artistes have consistently become the country’s most recognizable global brand ambassadors.
The IPADA Initiatives Celebrations, which attract Africans and African descendants from across the world, provided a platform for Ibrahim to reiterate NACCIMA’s openness to diaspora investors, innovators and tourists.
He said the country’s strategic position makes it a natural hub for Africans across continents seeking reconnection. “Nigeria is home. Make it your home because Nigeria is a gateway to Africa,” he urged attendees who had flown in from the Americas, Asia, Europe, Brazil and various African nations.
Ibrahim also extended warm acknowledgments to prominent dignitaries at the event, including Queen Aruk II, Obongawan Barrister Marie Ikpeme Erete, who traveled from Cross River State to grace the celebration, alongside several kings and traditional rulers.
The grand opening ceremony blended diplomacy, business networking and entertainment, with a headline performance by Emperor Ade, the son of Juju music legend King Sunny Ade. Ibrahim praised the young artiste for delivering a nostalgic and energetic performance. “Because this is all about creativity, I want to commend Emperor Ade and his band for giving us an opportunity for a good dance time this evening. Indeed, he is a chip off the old block,” he said.
He added that such creative showcases not only sustain cultural heritage but also underscore the revenue potential embedded in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
As Nigeria seeks ways to strengthen non-oil revenue and broaden job creation, Ibrahim reiterated NACCIMA’s commitment to partnering with both government and private innovators to unlock opportunities within the creative and tourism sectors.
Ibrahim closed his remarks with renewed support for the IPADA Initiatives, La Campagne Tropicana and the federal government, affirming that Nigeria’s economic aspirations require coordinated national and diaspora efforts.
“I thank you all for coming. God bless IPADA Initiatives. God bless La Campagne Tropicana. God bless NACCIMA. And God continue to bless our great country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and protect all our defence forces,” he concluded.
