China and Nigeria have strengthened their economic ties through a new strategic partnership aimed at fostering SME growth and expanding investment opportunities across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The agreement, signed by the China International Business and Development Corporation (CIBDC) and facilitated by the Nigeria-China Investment Club (NCIC), seeks to support local businesses in attracting funding, strengthening capacity, and creating jobs.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos, Dr. Chidi Ulelu, President of NCIC, said the collaboration marks the first phase of an ongoing effort to connect Nigerian enterprises with Chinese investors ready to fund development projects in sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and banking.
“Our objective is to attract meaningful investment from China to Nigeria and build businesses that can scale sustainably,” Ulelu said.
He added that participating firms will enjoy additional benefits, including 30 to 50 per cent discounts on goods and materials sourced from China, and will visit China in November to finalize investment agreements.
Ulelu noted that the partnership will help Nigerian SMEs build capacity and improve their eligibility for funding.
“We’re focused on reinventing Nigeria through partnerships that drive real growth and opportunity,” he said.
The collaboration is expected to unlock new funding channels for Nigerian entrepreneurs while strengthening bilateral trade and innovation-driven growth.
