ACCBCF Delegation Visits Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership, Explores Investment and Industrial Cooperation

Engagement focuses on institutional collaboration, Nigerian business development and stronger Africa–China economic ties

A delegation of the Africa China Chairmen of Business Forum (ACCBCF), led by its National Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of Africa China News (ACN), High Chief Mike Yousuf Ugwu (Zheng Xiaopeng), paid a courtesy visit to the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The delegation held discussions with the Acting Director-General of NCSP and members of its management team on strengthening Nigeria–China economic relations, promoting investment and industrial cooperation, improving engagement between government institutions and the business community, and expanding opportunities for Nigerian enterprises.

The NCSP leadership welcomed the delegation and acknowledged ACCBCF's efforts to strengthen business connections among Nigeria, other African countries and China.

NCSP's Role in Advancing Nigeria–China Strategic Cooperation

During the meeting, the Acting Director-General outlined the establishment, mandate and strategic priorities of NCSP.

The institution emerged following the September 3, 2024, meeting between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, during which both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

NCSP was subsequently established as a government coordination mechanism to support the implementation of commitments arising from the strengthened bilateral relationship.

Its responsibilities include intergovernmental coordination, facilitating strategic investment initiatives, monitoring project implementation and supporting cooperation across trade, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and technology.

In November 2024, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai met with Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, then serving as NCSP's Director-General, to discuss the implementation of bilateral commitments and opportunities for practical cooperation.

ACCBCF: Connecting Nigerian, African and Chinese Business Communities

Addressing the meeting, Ugwu outlined the Forum's establishment, institutional vision, organisational structure and business development priorities.

ACCBCF was founded in Abuja on March 30, 2026, by High Chief Mike Yousuf Ugwu, CEO and Publisher of Africa China News, and Dr. William, a senior adviser on electoral and decision-making affairs within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Established as an international leadership and business cooperation platform, the Forum seeks to connect government institutions, business leaders, chambers of commerce, enterprises and investors across Africa and China.

Its activities focus on investment promotion, industrial development, technology exchange, business partnerships and the implementation of commercially viable projects.

Operating under the strategic positioning of Based in Nigeria, Serving West Africa, Engaging Across Africa and Connecting with China, ACCBCF is guided by the principle:

Connecting Governments, Empowering Businesses, Creating Shared Prosperity.

Ugwu said the Forum's mandate extends beyond Nigeria–China bilateral cooperation to include stronger partnerships among Nigerian businesses, domestic chambers of commerce and industry associations, as well as wider commercial engagement across Africa.

Institutional Structure and Professional Advisory Support

Ugwu explained that ACCBCF has developed an organisational framework designed to support strategic leadership, professional advisory services, institutional engagement and business operations.

Its governance and management structure comprises the **Board of Directors, National Chairman, Strategic Advisory Council, Advisory Committee, Executive Managing Director and specialised departments**.

The Strategic Advisory Council provides guidance on long-term institutional development and major cooperation priorities, while the Advisory Committee brings together expertise from business, finance, law and industry to support investment facilitation, enterprise partnerships and project development.

The Forum also operates through its Africa Liaison Center and China Liaison Center, supported by international relations and public relations functions.

The Africa Liaison Center works with Nigerian business associations, chambers of commerce, industry groups and institutions across the continent.

The China Liaison Center focuses on engagement with Chinese provincial and municipal authorities, chambers of commerce, manufacturing enterprises, industrial organisations and investment institutions.

Together, these mechanisms are intended to strengthen communication, facilitate business matchmaking and encourage practical cooperation between Nigerian, African and Chinese stakeholders.

Strengthening Nigerian Enterprises and Local Industrial Development

Ugwu emphasised that Nigeria remains a central market for ACCBCF's business development and investment facilitation activities.

He said the Forum intends to deepen engagement with relevant federal and state institutions, chambers of commerce, manufacturers, small and medium-sized enterprises, sectoral associations and investment promotion agencies.

Priority areas include manufacturing, industrial parks, energy, agro-processing, infrastructure, technical training, supply-chain development and market expansion.

ACCBCF also seeks to support Nigerian businesses in accessing opportunities in China and other African markets through export promotion, technology partnerships and industrial collaboration.

According to Ugwu, effective economic cooperation should encourage both the inflow of investment and technology into Nigeria and the participation of Nigerian enterprises in regional and international value chains.

Exploring Institutional Collaboration and Investment Opportunities

Discussions also examined how government-level strategic coordination could complement business-led investment promotion and enterprise engagement.

NCSP's responsibilities in policy coordination, intergovernmental engagement and strategic project facilitation were identified as relevant to ACCBCF's networks of Nigerian, African and Chinese business organisations.

The two sides exchanged preliminary views on investment promotion, business exchanges and potential areas of industrial cooperation. Specific arrangements remain subject to further discussions.

Nigeria and China established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971, formed a Strategic Partnership in 2005 and elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2024.

As bilateral economic engagement continues to expand, greater coordination between public institutions and private-sector stakeholders is increasingly relevant to industrial development, technology transfer, investment facilitation and project implementation.

The visit provided an opportunity for ACCBCF and NCSP to strengthen institutional dialogue and explore how government coordination and business networks could contribute to practical Nigeria–China and wider Africa–China economic cooperation.