Oando Plc and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc as well as other investors have expressed the growth of new investments between Nigeria and the United States as part of efforts to deepen bilateral ties between the two countries.

Speaking during a dinner hosted by the US Nigeria Council (USNC) for Food Security, Trade and Investment, an organisation dedicated to strengthening commercial ties between Nigeria and the United States, in New York, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu applauded the Council for facilitating transactions between a very diverse set of stakeholders and expressed his hopes for even stronger and more impactful relationships in the near future.

He said: “As we know, global firms and investors are increasingly drawn to Nigeria, Africa’s largest and most dynamic market, but navigating the rapidly changing business ecosystem requires strategic partnerships. Collaboration is essential to not only maximise an organisation’s potential, but also to grow and diversify the Nigerian economy. Meetings like these encourage tangible partnerships across both borders and allow for an upward drive of the economy.

The co-host of the dinner and co-chair of the Council, John Coumantaros, noted that the “USNC is the premier business organization developing tangible joint ventures and partnerships that develop capacity and accelerate economic diversification in Nigeria.”

The event was held on the sidelines of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly as a platform to dialogue and build US-Nigeria commercial relations, with the aim of significantly deepening a new era of understanding and cooperation between the US and Nigeria.

Also, the CEO of Nigeria’s $2 billion Sovereign Wealth Fund, Uche Orji, described the work of the Council as bringing together “a wide spectrum of stakeholders critical to building Nigerian-American business relations.”

Eliot Pence, Executive Director of the USNC, in his remarks, noted the Council’s unique focus on “facilitating transactionsbetween young entrepreneurs, investors and companies.”

The commitment of Nigerian businesses to the USNC was demonstrated by the active participation of Wale Tinubu of Oando PLC, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank, Tunde Folawiyo of Yinka Folawiyo Group, Abdulrazaq Isa of Waltersmith, Kola Karim of Shoreline Energy, and Oscar Onyema of the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

The dinner welcomed a diverse and notable group of entrepreneurs who have built successful companies in a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, technology, agribusiness, e-commerce, and education.

US businesses that were in attendance include Google, IBM, Tetra Tech, and American Tower. Among the leading investors at the event were Citi, Denham Capital, Fairfax Africa, CRE Ventures, Development Partners International, Atlas Mara and Zephyr Management. The dinner was attended by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, and Ambassador Hassan Mohammed Hassan of Nigeria.