The US-Africa Trade and Investment Conference/Trade Show – AfrICANDO 2021 event took place in Miami, United States, last week, between Wednesday, 6th & Friday 8th October 2021.
The event featured Seminars, B2B Matchmaking, Exhibits and an Awards Ceremony. The event was mainly hosted in Miami, Florida, USA with parallel and simultaneous inputs from Kinshasa, DRC; Lagos, Nigeria as well as other African cities with basically virtual access globally.
The theme of AfrICANDO 2021 was:
The Impact of COVID-19 on US-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation: The Way Forward.
This event featured several distinguished dignitaries & speakers including some NACC Board Members among whom were:
- Dame Adebola Williams, the National President of Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC)
- Otunba Toyin Akomolafe, Immediate Past National President of Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and Currently the Vice-Chair, AGOA Civil Society Organization Network (Anglophone Countries)
- Mr. Thomas Osobu, Deputy-President of the Chamber who represented the National President of NACC at the event.
- Ms Grace Adeyemo, Chairman, AGOA Committee and Principal Partner & Head Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice Legal Icon Chambers Nigeria.
This event was organised by the AGOA Civil Society Organizations Network Secretariat headed by Mr Fred Oladeinde who is also a Chamber Board Member.
The Welcome event was basically on Wednesday, 6th October 2021 with main African/US trade issues featuring mainly on Thursday, 7th October. The Thursday schedule featured welcome remarks by several invited dignitaries including the NACC National President, Dame Adebola Williams (represented by the Deputy-President, Mr. Thomas Osobu) and Otunba Oluwatoyin Akomolafe, the immediate Past National President of the Chamber and, currently, the Vice-Chair, AGOA Civil Society Organization Network for Anglophone Countries.
In the evening, there was a special presentation from sample African countries on details on COVID-19 impact on US/Africa Bilateral Trade of which Ms. Grace Adeyemo, Chairman of NACC AGOA Committee made an excellent, in-depth presentation on behalf of Nigeria. She also introduced Mrs. Kiki Okewale, a leading fashion designer based in Lagos, Nigeria who also made a brilliant presentation as well as opened up an experience-sharing session based on the effects of COVID-19 on her business. Both presentations were excellently received at the event.
In conclusion, Friday 8th October 2021 basically featured a concluding/wrap-up session as well as an awards ceremony. It was, in all, a worthy experience for the Chamber and a beautiful outing for Nigeria in general, having been excellently represented as detailed above.
Sola Obadimu
DG-NACC
11th October 2021.
