American Business Council, CIPE Partners to Strengthen Democracy in Nigeria

Gilbert Ekugbe

The American Business Council Nigeria in partnership with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has launched a Private Sector Development for Democracy Forum (PSDdF) to strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

At a media parley to launch the PSDdF, the Chief Executive Officer, American Business Council, Margaret Olele, expressed the Council’s excitement over the launch, explaining that the mission of the PSDdF is to facilitate strategic broad-based collaboration between stakeholders in the private sector, civil society, and policymakers with the vision and commitment to improving democratic institutions within Nigeria for shared prosperity.

“The Council has served as a vehicle to drive trade and investment in Nigeria and foster economic development through US–Nigeria partnerships. The Council also engaged the Vice-Presidential candidates of the four leading parties before the 2023 elections to share expectations of the private sector. Constructive and not prescriptive dialogue at various levels of engagement from the private sector and allies can contribute to the nation’s democratic trajectory,” she said.

On her part, the Country Director of CIPE, Lola Adekanye, noted that the quality of governance determines the growth potential of any country and region, saying that as a strategically important country in the African region, Nigeria’s governance and economic success is Africa’s governance and economic success.

“Therefore, as Nigeria excels in innovation both in the tech and entertainment spaces, Nigeria can excel in governance,” she said.

She noted that this aligns with CIPE’s vision for a world where democracy delivers the freedom and opportunity for all to prosper and expressed optimism about the opportunity to collaborate with some of the best, brightest greatest minds on the PSDdF towards this vision.