Nigeria-Vietnam Chamber targets digital economy integration to boost bilateral relations
Onome Amuge
Renewable energy, circular economy, and digital economy took center stage during the 2025 Quarterly Business Meeting (QBM) hosted by the Nigeria-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NVCCI), as stakeholders gathered to explore new avenues for strengthening trade relationships between Nigeria and its Southeast Asian counterpart, Vietnam.
The event, an annual gathering of business leaders and professional practitioners in trade and investment was held recently at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Lagos . It was marked by discussions around crucial areas of interest, from capacity building and trade promotion to technological infrastructure advancement, charting a course for enhanced bilateral trade relations between the two countries.
The hybrid event, which is the first of a two leg series, is held in preparation of the Nigerian delegation’s visit to Vietnam’s Trade Fair coming up in the country’s capital city, Hanoi in April 2025.
One of the event’s major highlight was a keynote address on the theme of “Renewable Energy, Circular Economy, and Digital Economy,” presented by Oluwafemi Ipinnimo, a renowned researcher and lecturer at the University of Lagos.
According to Ipinnimo, transitioning to a circular economy boosted by renewable energy offers multiple benefits to the Nigerian economy.
In particular, Ipinnimo identified the telecoms sector as an ideal starting point for leveraging digital technologies to drive the adoption and adaptation of renewable energy solutions, fostering a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient energy landscape for Nigeria.
Ipinnimo noted that the telecoms sector presents a promising area of cooperation between Nigeria and Vietnam, both of which have made some strides in developing this field.
Given the large population of tech-savvy youth in Nigeria, who are active in various segments of the digital economy, including FinTech and startups, Ipinnimo argued that there is ample scope for Vietnam to explore partnerships with Nigerian companies and vice versa.
In his address, Abiodun Aibinu, the vice chancellor of Summit University, Kwara State, introduced the concept of “AcadoPreneur,” a hybrid approach to business that combines the strengths of academia and entrepreneurship to enhance business operations and contribute to economic growth.
The Professor of Mechatronics Engineering underscored the need for simplified policy documents and streamlined implementation processes in order to facilitate the establishment of a robust digital and circular economy in Nigeria.
The meeting also featured a question-and-answer (Q&A) session and a series of business-to-business (B2B) interactions, designed to foster collaborative initiatives aimed at boosting trade and investment ties between Nigeria and Vietnam.
Another major highlight of the event was when the chamber, in its tradition, inducted some new members into its class of 2025. The inductees, five in number, include Summit University Advancement Bureau, Kwara Garment Factory Limited, XPO Marine Services Limited, Radix Capital Partners Limited, and MotBot Technology and Export Processing Limited.
Honourable Justice Olatoregun Mojisola, the chairperson of the organizing committee for the NVCCI’s Quarterly Business Meeting, shared her positive outlook on the potential of the Nigeria-Vietnam economic partnership, expressing optimism that the collaboration will open a lot of doors for local entrepreneurs to do business outside the shores of Nigeria.
On his part, Oye Akinsemoyin, president of the Nigeria Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry noted that the chief takeaway from the programme is that the chamber has been able to set the tone for preparation for the delegation visit to Vietnam in April.
“We have been able to sensitise our people and get people ready. Now, they will go back to their various organizations and tell them what they have seen here,” he said.