UBA CEO calls for deeper Nigeria-Brazil trade ties

Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has advocated for strengthened trade and investment relations between Nigeria and Brazil. Speaking in Abuja during Brazil’s National Day celebrations, Alawuba identified key sectors for potential collaboration, including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, technology, and the creative industries.

Alawuba noted that bilateral trade in goods between the two nations reached approximately US$2.4 billion in 2025. He highlighted the US$1.1 billion Green Imperative Agricultural Mechanisation Programme as a significant opportunity to combine Brazilian expertise and equipment with Nigerian enterprise to enhance food security and job creation.

Beyond economic ties, Alawuba emphasized the deep cultural and historical connections between the nations, citing the enduring influence of Afro-Brazilian heritage in Nigerian communities such as Lagos Aguda.