Magazine
2019 NCTC: When Consul-General confident of Nigeria-Cameroon ties
From September 27 to October 1, 2019, government functionaries, businessmen and women from Cameroon and Nigeria were gathered in Douala, Cameroon where they interacted under friendly ambience and sought ways of improved business climate between the two countries. ISMAILA ADEGBOLA reports
At the second edition of Nigeria-Cameroon Trade, Tourism and Culture Week held in Douala between September 27 and October 1, the Consul General of Douala, Safiu O. Olaniyan was brimming with confidence and occasionally smiling in assurance of a bright future of Nigeria- Cameroon relationship.
The opening ceremony held at Canal Olympia Douala on Friday 27th attracted appreciable number of dignitaries from Nigeria and Cameroon, all of whom expressed enthusiasm at the event and satisfaction to the efforts of the organising committee headed by the consul general.
As a career diplomat, who had seen it all in international relations, Olaniyan made some submissions, asserting that the contemporary world is too interwoven for individual countries to go it alone, insisting that the world is a global village which has shrunk to a unit.
He maintained that the step, which the Nigerian diplomatic and Consular missions had taken so far, would take Nigeria and Cameroon to their dream destinations, urging the two nations to consolidate the stride. Doubling as the chairman of the organising committee, he confirmed that the fair would be holding every two years where an improved organisation would be witnessed by participants.
“I want to sincerely thank all the stakeholders, close collaborators, sponsors and other participants for the successful hosting of this edition. I want the youths of the two countries to take a positive step now and believe in what they can do, for the future is now. One can be taught skills but it is always good to be obedient to one’s passion. Youths should make profitable use of your cell phones,” he advised.
Olaniyan warned of the danger of disunity and regretted the long decade it had taken to organize the edition. He disclosed that the two Consulates General of Buea, Douala the High Commission in Yaoundé collaborated closely “to the boundaries of economic relationships” by coming together to seek ways to undertake formal business ventures, take the responsibility to understand what it takes to do good business etc. He also emphasised the significance of aviation technology.
Aside the consul general, a cross section of other Speakers also mounted the podium and delivered impactful speeches to improve, widen, reinforce, facilitate ties and to share knowledge on each other’s business climate, in order to promote opportunities for sustainable development which is also the theme of this edition.
In his speech, the leader of government delegate of Douala, Dr. Ntone Ntone, sold the city’s potential and attractions to the visiting participants just as he also presented projects like SMIT and others, thereafter, appealing for revenue generating projects for those who wished to invest in Douala, the nation’s economic capital.
The Nigerian High Commission in Yaounde, His Excellency, Ambassador Lawan Gashaga, described the event as a new dawn in the history of the NCTC which he regretted, was supposed to be an annual event. This, he stated, was in furtherance to reinforce all the ties already in place between the two countries despite the emergence of afrophobia which should be discouraged.
He called for the encouragement and an improvement of free movement of peoples, goods and the promotion of investments.
Representative of the Nigerian Ministry of Information and Culture, who was said to be the Head of the Nigerian delegation in the presence of another senior representative of the Benue State, also described the event as another watershed and advocated for a collective commitment to share experiences to increase global competence.
She called on the two countries to make culture a key sector to be transformed into a huge money spinner, also calling for more private sector investments to impact on culture, analyse and gain knowledge of the products and technologies.
Speeches were closely followed by cultural displays by the Benue State and Sawa dance groups who thrilled the gathering. The NCTC was declared open by the Cameroon Minister of Tourism and Leisure, after which came the exhibition and visit to stands led by the Minister of Tourism and Leisure and entourage of both Nigeria and Cameroon.
Others present included heads of diplomatic missions, senior government officials, traditional chiefs, heads of enterprises or their representatives, other local officials and cultural groups from Nigeria and Cameroon.
Significantly, the event boosted atmosphere of accomplishment among the organizers and the organizing committee members who sweated for months to revive the international fair which ended on the 59th Independence day of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Senior government officials, the consular and diplomatic corps, economic operators and other invited guests featured prominently at the fair and explored good business practices across the two borders.
The Chamber of Commerce of Cameroon represented by the Vice President Ekoko Mukete, the assistant D.G. of A.P.M.E. that promotes the interests of small and medium businesses in Cameroon and a highly reputed international lawyer, Barrister Nico Halle.
Papers were also delivered by the representatives of SMEDAN that promotes small and medium sized enterprises in Nigeria, the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAC, Dangote Cameroon who was also the biggest sponsor of the edition, and experts under UBA who presented the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to make tomorrow’s Africa great again, Madam Olaniyan, wife of the Consul General of Douala and Mrs Addingi who was the head of Delegation of Benue State.
Though brief, the presentations were another training session on what one needs to do to be successful in business and life. The Benue State head of delegation advised that the youth can start an enterprise with very little capital but cut down on luxury goods.
At the gala night on October 1st, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Lawan Gashagar once again highlighted Nigeria – Cameroon cooperation such as Bamenda – Enugu road.
