<strong><em>Cross-section of the attendees at the Business Breakfast Meeting</em></strong>
ILESANMI MOTUNRAYO OLUKEMI
The Breakfast Meeting held in Lagos by the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce & Industry was another moment for players in both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy to brainstorm about the country’s business environment, the challenges and prospects in 2026.
Organised with the facilitating support from TREXM Holdings and Lycée Français Louis Pasteur, the breakfast meeting, which brought business leaders, was tagged: “Nigerian in a reform-driven era, leaving no stone unturned”
In his opening remarks, the Consul General of France in Lagos,
Laurent Favier, stressed that “Nigeria’s economic landscape in 2026 presents both opportunities and challenges, urging business leaders to exercise agility and foresight in our strategic decisions. The French government, acknowledging the potential here, continues to foster a sustainable partnership. Agencies like
Agence Française de Développement, the French Development Bank, are investing in transformative projects that enhance resilience and sustainable development, while
Business France and the Chamber actively promote French investment in Nigeria.”
<strong><em>Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier</em></strong>
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee,
Taiwo Oyedele,
who delvered the keynote address stated that “the NTA is not aimed at taxing more but taxing fairly and leaving no stone unturned means we are addressing structural challenges, not applying temporary patches. It means building a tax and fiscal framework that rewards productivity, protects the vulnerable, and supports long-term investment”.
Also present as the Guest for this morning’s session was the Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Secretariat, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, who stated that “Nigeria in a Reform-Driven Economy: Leaving No Stone Unturned, reflects a shared understanding that competitiveness is built deliberately, through coordination, consistency, and trust.
</em> <strong><em>Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele</em></strong>
“At PEBEC, we approach reform from a simple standpoint: an enabling business environment is one where systems work predictably, institutions collaborate effectively, and businesses can plan with confidence”.
Other attendees at the business breakfast meeting included Ikemesit Effiong, Partner, SBM Intelligence, Ajibola Sogunro, Partner, Tax and Regulatory Services Forvis Mazars in Nigeria, Aminat Jegede, Partner in Tax, Regulatory & People Services division, KPMG Nigeria, chaired by Alicia Adefarasin and Senior Counsel Dentons.
