The Immediate Past Secretary General of the Developing-8 (D-8) Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Ambassador Isiaka Imam, says Nigeria’s participation in the group has strengthened the country’s economic standing and expanded opportunities for local businesses.
Imam, speaking to a correspondent of VON in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said one of the major highlights of Nigeria’s participation in the D-8 during his tenure was the approval by all member states to host the D-8 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Centre in Abuja, under the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The former Secretary General, who recently stepped down after a successful tenure, explained that the centre, launched in June 2025, was designed to boost export capacity for SMEs, noting that a vast majority of businesses in D-8 member states fall within the SME category.
He added that the D-8 market, with a combined population of over 1.2 billion people, offers Nigerian enterprises, including those in other member states, a significant opportunity to expand intra-trade relations.
On Nigeria’s image abroad, Imam acknowledged the existence of negative elements but stressed that many Nigerians are positively representing the country in sectors such as health, engineering, education, energy, sports, and the creative industry.
Addressing brain drain, he said migration should be better managed through formal labour agreements to reduce its negative impact on the economy, rather than being viewed entirely as a loss.
He urged Nigerian youths to remain resilient and innovative, describing them as hardworking and globally competitive despite prevailing economic challenges.
The D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, established in 1997 and headquartered in Istanbul, comprises Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye.