ILESANMI MOTUNRAYO OLUKEMI

The Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI), in collaboration with Forvis Mazars in Nigeria, on Tuesday hosted the sixth edition of its Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Luncheon in Lagos.

The event, themed “Trade Policy, AfCFTA and the C-Suite Growth Agenda,” was held at the Lycée Français Louis Pasteur (LFLP) on Bashorun Street, Victoria Island, bringing together top business executives, finance leaders and policymakers to examine the evolving landscape of cross-border trade and regional economic integration.

The one-day luncheon featured insightful panel discussions led by renowned industry experts, including Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nairametrics; Olawale Rotimi Opeyemi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Group; Adams Osamudiame J., Partner at Forvis Mazars in Nigeria; and Peter Nwofia, Tax Partner at Forvis Mazars in Nigeria.

Opening the event, the Consul General of France, Laurent Favier, reaffirmed France’s commitment to the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a critical driver of Africa’s economic sovereignty, industrialisation and long-term prosperity.

Favier noted that strengthening regional trade through the AfCFTA would unlock new opportunities for businesses, enhance competitiveness and accelerate sustainable economic growth across the continent.

Speaking at the luncheon, the Director-General of the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Moses Umoru, commended participants for attending despite the heavy rainfall that affected parts of Lagos.

Umoru also expressed appreciation to the event’s keynote speaker, John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu, Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, for providing valuable policy insights into the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the regulatory environment and support businesses under the AfCFTA framework.

He equally praised the panelists for their practical contributions and strategic perspectives, saying their discussions simplified the complexities of cross-border trade and equipped business leaders with practical strategies for achieving sustainable regional growth.

“I must confess that their practical contributions and strategic perspectives completely demystified the complexities of cross-border trade, providing the C-Suite with actionable blueprints for sustainable regional growth,” Umoru said.