Niyi John Olajide, Chairman of Cavista Holdings and the Corporate Council on Africa, has urged African leaders to foster stronger regional cooperation and create business-friendly environments that promote cross-border investment.

Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Chieftaincy Installation ceremony at the Ooni of Ife’s Palace, Olajide emphasized that Africa’s economic potential—1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of over $3 trillion—is hindered by fragmented markets and restrictive trade policies.

“Nigeria’s prosperity is inextricably linked to Ghana’s success. Progress in one African nation creates opportunities across the continent. We must remove bureaucratic barriers that discourage regional investment and enable African businesses to operate freely across borders,” Olajide said.

The ceremony, hosted by His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, also saw Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama conferred with the chieftaincy title of Aare Atayese of Oodua. The event attracted African leaders and business figures including former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, industrialist Aliko Dangote, and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Olajide commended business leaders like Dangote for expanding investments across African borders, showcasing the potential of pan-African enterprise. He called on governments to translate rhetoric into action by implementing streamlined regulations, transparent investment frameworks, reduced trade barriers, and protected property rights.

He further highlighted the Nigeria-Ghana relationship as a model for continental cooperation. “What we build between Accra and Lagos can become the blueprint for the entire continent. This is not just an economic imperative; it is a moral one. All stakeholders—heads of state, investors, and business communities—must work together for a prosperous, peaceful, and globally competitive Africa,” Olajide said.

The Ooni of Ife echoed this vision, stressing the importance of strengthening historical, cultural, and economic ties between Nigeria and Ghana for the benefit of citizens.