Building Bridges Across Africa: BACCIMA’s DG Engages Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation in Kigali

The Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has taken another decisive step in its pan-African outreach, engaging the Head of Exhibitions of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), Rwanda — the apex organisation representing Rwanda’s private sector — during a working visit to Kigali, to explore collaboration on trade exhibitions and business promotion.

The Chamber was represented by its Director General, Engr. Seton M. Senu, FITD, joined on the delegation by Mr. Laja Shoniran, a management consultant and Author, AI For Everyday People and Mr. Oluwasegun Akinyanmi, Chief Technology Officer of SO Techafrica

Founded in 1999 and comprising nine professional chambers, the Private Sector Federation is the driving force behind the Rwanda International Trade Fair, one of East Africa’s largest and most prestigious business exhibitions. Its forthcoming 29th edition, holding at the Gikondo Expo Grounds in Kigali, is expected to welcome more than 500 exhibitors and over 300,000 visitors from across the world — a testament to the scale and vibrancy of the platform PSF has built.

In their engagement with the Head of Exhibitions, the delegation explored how BACCIMA and PSF might work together to connect their respective business communities: enabling Badagry and Nigerian businesses to exhibit and explore opportunities in Rwanda, and welcoming Rwandan enterprises to BACCIMA’s own Trade Fair and the West African market it serves. Such exchange lies at the very heart of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — turning the promise of a single African market into real connections between real businesses.

For BACCIMA, exhibitions are far more than events; they are gateways to markets, partnerships, and growth. A collaboration with an institution as accomplished as PSF Rwanda offers the Chamber’s members a bridge to East Africa, and offers Rwandan businesses a corresponding gateway to the Nigeria–Benin corridor and beyond.

BACCIMA is enthusiastic about the prospects of this budding partnership and looks forward to formalising avenues of cooperation — including mutual participation in each other’s trade fairs, exchange of exhibitor delegations, and shared learning in exhibition management.

The Chamber extends its warm appreciation to the Head of Exhibitions and the entire Private Sector Federation of Rwanda for their openness and hospitality.

BACCIMA remains resolute in her mission to be the Voice of Business and the Power of Connection for Badagry and its environs.

— BACCIMA Secretariat