In a landmark celebration on Wednesday, 16th September 2026, in Ethiopia the land of origins, history was made inside the prestigious Ethiopia Skyline Hotel in Bole district, Addis Ababa, when Motherland Beckons, IPADA Initiatives and NBCC, made a break through, with an East West Amalgamation ceremony that gathered the cream de la creme of government officials from different African countries, diplomats, royals, business men and women, non governmental organisations and different organisations who came together to break the cold ice wall, that limited the flow of trade and commerce and limited movement and progress first among African nations and then particularly people in the East and West of Africa.
The series of events started in the morning, with the welcome address titled: “Why we are here” by Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye the Founder of IPADA Initiatives and Motherland Beckons, one of the Conveners of the event. He kick started the conversation by reminding all, about the strategic position Africa occupies with her wealth of resources, capacity of half a billion people between East and West Africa alone. He said that coming together will “definitely attract the world to come to us because of what we will build together.”
Using himself as an example he recalled how he went into an African bush in Lagos and created an African themed resort which today is now being replicated around the world. That East and West Africa has now come together, to offer to themselves and to the world, what they have created and are creating.
It was a powerful message that echoed in the event hall and resounded immediately outside the walls of the hall and Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye received a loud ovation that motivated other speakers and pushed forward the other series of events of the day.
The Keynote of the day by His Excellency Ambassador Nasir Aminu, the Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia added more icing to the call for the East and West Africa Amalgamation. He spoke on strengthening Nigeria’s role in the East-West Integration through strategic partnerships and actions, which was exactly what took place much later in the day, to consolidate the conversations of the day and the successful take off of the Amalgamation through the signings of seven different MoUs between different organizations in East and West Africa and between individuals in East and West Africa and Organizations in Canada, USA and the National Black Chamber of Commerce in USA.
Different speakers at the event spoke with emotional gust and fervent words that eulogised the necessity of the Amalgamation. But more importantly they spoke of the route and best easiest ways of opening the East-West global trade corridor that will connect African markets to global opportunities to achieve shared prosperity.
Ato Kenour Ghenna, President of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce opened the eyes of all with a speech that centred on different areas of connections that will lead to Commerce, as the Amalgamation takes off with the ceremony.
The National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce (NACCIMA), Engr. Jani Ibrahim brought to fore, the overall aspirations of the entire mission of the East and West Africa Amalgamation when in his speech he said:
“I believe the real value of our gathering today will not be measured by the quality of the speeches we deliver or the number of business cards we exchange. It will be measured by what happens after we leave this room.
That, for me, is the real question before us: how do we move from connections to commerce, from conversations to contracts, and from opportunities identified to businesses created, investments made and jobs generated? Africa already has enormous economic potential. We have markets, natural resources, a young and ambitious population, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, investors, technology, culture and an increasingly integrated continental policy framework.”
The NACCIMA President, spoke in a live video connection to the audience, which was facilitated by Ms Ifeoma Ozue, the Business Development Manager at NACCIMA, who represented him physically at the event.
The President of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Charles Debow, who also had the privilege of speaking at the forum via a video connection facilitated by Ms. Darlene Evans, CEO of Canadian based D Evans Consulting, finally sealed the hopes that kick started the action programme of the East-West Amalgamation.
The President of the NBCC, Mr. Charles Debow lauded the opportunity of the Amalgamation of the East-West Africa and spoke of the vision of a global trade that will grow the region. He joined all the speakers of the day, to thank the Founder of Motherland Beckons and IPADA Initiatives, Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, for actualizing this historic gathering and the successful take off of the Amalgamation.
Mr. Charles Debow boosted the entire ceremony of the day, by moving away from talk to action! He said that the conversation has immediately moved as he is bringing to the table of East and West Africa Amalgamation, an instant connection to 200 affiliated Chambers of commerce in America with modules and frameworks in America and Canada.
“And this means commitment. Now we move from conversation to opening of transaction pipelines, spanning logistics, tourism, mining, investments opportunities and signing of MoUs. Africa is now our primary market place and the Diaspora our bridge for the capital commitment,” he said before he dropped the miracle investment portfolio of funds announcement, that blew the mind of everyone in the hall for seconds before the hall erupted with shouts of joy and clapping. Suddenly huge investment money walked into the hall confidently and that immediately changed and prompted the entire conversation into action plans.
His investment fund position and investment possibilities was equally emphasized by Ms. Darlene Evans, CEO of Canadian-based D Evans Consulting at the event. Ms Evans, who according to Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye in his earlier speech, is one of the major three powerful women who also made the event possible, spoke with thought provoking imagination and desire for the great possibilities that the coming together will bring about. She said that even in far away Atlanta airport, she experienced the Ethiopian hospitality through a meeting with an Ethiopian young boy, before arriving to Addis Ababa. She added that nothing is impossible when people meet, start a conservation, trust one another and have an exchange through commitment between them.
There were other great speeches and exposure of investment information opportunities in East-West Africa by other speakers. One of such was that of the popular Nigerian Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who represented Ekiti State of Nigeria investment voice at the event. He went on to present investment opportunities in the agriculture rich Nigerian state.
Mr. Samuel Tesema the Chief Administrator of Wolaita zone also presented investment opportunities available in Wolaita Soddo where La Campagne Tropicana Agro ecotourism has acquired a huge investment of land where agreements are already in place to collaborate in development work.
Ms. Nyakan June, Founder and Global CEO of Timeless Women of Wonder in Kenya, spoke of business and investment opportunities in Kenya. Mr. Akwasi Agyeman who attended the event from Ghana, spoke of investment opportunities in Ghana.
Captain Adetutu a Director at foremost private security organisation in Africa, Corporate Guards Limited, spoke on Corporate Guards Private Security Franchise Opportunities. She also spoke on past achievements of the organisation such as being the only firm that secured the visit of Marlon Jackson of The Jackson Five fame, along with 40 American Mayors to Africa and many other such feats.
Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye spoke on the investment opportunities in the new Agro-Eco Tourism Resort Development & Motherland Beckons Farms in Ethiopia and other global locations.
Her Excellency Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, the Ambassador at Ugandan Embassy spoke on the Investment and partnerships opportunities in Uganda.
His Excellency Ambassador Hadj Nounke Kaba, Ambassador, Republic of Guinea, spoke on investment and partnership opportunities in the Republic of Guinea.
Mr. Background Kone, Counsellor at the Mali Embassy spoke on investment opportunities in Mali.
Her Excellency Selamawit Kassa, the Ethiopian Minister of Tourism who was represented at the event by Mr. Derbew, the strategic Advisory Coordinator at the Ethiopia Ministry of Tourism, opened the doors to tourism opportunities in Ethiopia.
In her goodwill message, Ambassador Coralita Yard, the Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, West Africa, said that, “it’s time to have an Africa where people are not running away from. “Let’s make one Africa a reality, so that our people will stay and travel by choice. We need to build stronger humanitarian partnerships that creates a future, driven by investment trade entrepreneurship.”
Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye bolstered the investment opportunities with another investment funding for the Amalgamation which raised the spirit of the Amalgamation.
The event was broken into sessions, tea break and lunch which saw individuals and organisations coming up with their pitch for investment funding. Seven individuals and organisations emerged successful in their pitch for funding requests and MoUs were immediately signed before the end of the forum.
Awards were given to individuals and organisations that contributed to putting in place the forum by The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
A major highlight of the event was the attendance itself and participation which cut across several of the countries in the East-West Africa region. The event was also graced by Her Royal Majesty, Queen Aruk II, Obongawan Barrister Marie Ikpeme Erete, who flew into Addis Ababa from the United Kingdom for the event.
