The Anambra State Emerging Entrepreneurs Network (ASEEN) says it is working towards a collaboration on trade and leadership skills opportunities with Niger Republic.
Mr Chinedu Aniagbaoso, President of ASEEN, said this in an interview with newsmen in Awka following their return from a six-day trade mission to Niamey, the capital of Niger.
Aniagbaoso said ASEEN is working in collaboration with National Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Youth Entrepreneurs, Anambra chapter.
He said the mission was to get a first hand experience of the West African country and establish business collaboration as part of efforts to boost trade interaction among West Africa countries.
According to him, “our visit to Niger was to add flesh to our intention to collaborate with Niger to deepen the process of growing the African economies through promotion of trade and services.
“Niger Republic is the only country in Africa that has a joint commission with Nigeria, we hope to explore and facilitate trade and service opportunities between the two countries to the advantage of many Nigerian youths.
“The mission was very insightful because we discussed areas of mutual economic benefits to both countries which many Nigerians neglect,” he said.
Aniagbaso said they were received at the Nigeria embassy in Niamey from where they proceeded to the Niger Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Place De La Concertation.
He said they also visited the African Development University (A.D.U), Niamey, a bi-lingual (French and English), a non-profit making institution in Niger and later to Permanent Secretariat of Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC) in Niamey.
According to him, we established a point of collaboration between A.D.U. and Onitsha Business School via exchange programmes and entrepreneurship studies.
“The management of these two institutions are eager to kickstart this process immediately.
“We interacted warmly with students, we were also happy to find some Nigerians studying and working in the institution, which offers world class education to students from the Sahel region.
“It was an honor to be received by the great son of Kano State and the Secretary-General of NNJC, Ambassador Rabiu Akawu,” he said.
He thanked the Onitsha Business School for providing the administrative support and the Nigeria embassy in Niamey for facilitating and accompanying them on the visit.
Aniagbaso said the ASEEN trade mission would return to Niger in June 2023 for an entrepreneurship and leadership skills summit and training for no fewer than 1,000 young entrepreneurs from Nigeria and Niger.
