A member of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Sierra Leone, and Chief Executive Officer of Yennco World Trade Limited, Dr. Onyeka Nwafor, has paid a courtesy visit to the Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Abdul.B Kamara, ahead of the maiden edition of the Nigeria-Sierra Leone Trade Fair.
The visit took place last Friday at the African Development Bank Regional Office in Abuja, where Dr. Nwafor formally informed Dr. Abdul about the inaugural annual Nigeria-Sierra Leone Trade Fair scheduled to hold in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Nwafor said the trade fair is aimed at strengthening economic and commercial ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The event is slated to take place from July 27 to August 9, 2026, at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown.
According to him, the initiative is expected to boost bilateral trade relations, foster economic cooperation, and promote peace and unity among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Dr. Nwafor disclosed that the current annual trade volume between Nigeria and Sierra Leone stands at approximately $5 million, with Nigeria’s exports accounting for about $2.96 million.
He described the figures as indicative of a modest but steadily growing bilateral economic relationship with significant potential for expansion.
In his response, Dr. Abdul commended the initiative, emphasizing that the African Development Bank remains at the forefront of promoting economic growth and development across the African continent.
He noted that the AfDB is currently financing the construction of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway, a major regional infrastructure project spanning five countries —Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Dr. Abdul described the project as an eight-lane highway that will significantly improve the movement of goods and services across the region upon completion.
He further assured the organizers of the Bank’s support in so many other ways.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Kamara is a special guest of honour and he is going to speak at the fair.
Those present at the visit were Mr. BANDE Yassaya
Operation Analyst Officer(RDNG), Mr. Jacob ODUOR,PhD, Lead Economist Nigeria Country Department African Development Bank and Ometere Omaluabi-Davies,
Principal Regional integration Coordinator.
