Business Leaders Highlight Cross-National Corporations’ Role in Africa’s Economic Development
Business leaders emphasised the crucial role of cross-national corporations in the economic development of African economies at the recent Lagos Business School Alumni Day conference. The event, themed ‘African Economic Development: Cross-National Corporations as Enablers,’ gathered industry captains, association presidents, and business executives in Lagos to discuss strategies for driving Africa’s economic regeneration.
The conference underscored the pivotal role of cross-national corporations in enabling Africa’s economic renewal. It highlighted the necessity for collaboration, bold action, and strategic investments across critical sectors such as agriculture, logistics, healthcare, and infrastructure.
A key highlight of the conference was a panel discussion moderated by Mojisola Akinkunmi, Executive Director of Terra Energy Services. During the session, Obi Asika, Chairman of Outhere Media, urged Africans to take control of their narratives and reshape the global perception of the continent. Rotimi Opeyemi, CEO of JRFarms Africa, stressed the need for deliberation, intentionality, and boldness among African corporations to unlock the continent’s value proposition.
Albert Van Rensburg, Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria, acknowledged the crucial role of corporations but emphasised the importance of collaboration with stakeholders like farmers to drive meaningful change and benefit many lives through increased transparency. Claire Omatseye, CEO of JNC International Limited, called for strategic partnerships between governments, corporations, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to create an enabling environment for the healthcare industry to thrive.
