New York, August 18, 2026 — Today, the Board Chair of the Economic Club of Africa Network (ECAN), Professor Fred Olayele, and Board Director Mr. Obi Emekekwue, paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Matete ’Nena, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United Nations, at the Permanent Mission in New York.

The visit provided an opportunity for a warm and constructive exchange on Lesotho’s economic development priorities, private-sector growth, investment mobilization, and opportunities to strengthen engagement between the Kingdom and ECAN’s international network of business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and development partners.

During the meeting, the ECAN delegation shared perspectives on the Network’s work to strengthen economic, commercial, and innovation ties across Africa and between the continent and the global business community. Discussions highlighted the importance of building stronger connections between policy, business, investment, and development to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ECAN’s three core themes— finance, innovation, and development—and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.

Ambassador ’Nena reaffirmed Lesotho’s openness to trade, investment, and tourism, highlighting the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its engagement with global partners. His Excellency also emphasized opportunities for deeper engagement with Lesotho, including initiatives aimed at strengthening private-sector participation, facilitating investment and strategic partnerships, and showcasing the Kingdom’s economic opportunities to a broader international audience.

Prof. Olayele expressed appreciation to the Permanent Representative and the Mission for the warm reception and commended the Mission’s role in advancing Lesotho’s interests within the United Nations and the wider international community.

As part of the visit, Prof. Olayele presented Ambassador ’Nena with a copy of his book on Effective Strategies for Resource Mobilization, underscoring ECAN’s commitment to advancing practical approaches to sustainable financing and development. Prof. Olayele reiterated ECAN’s focus on sustainable resource mobilization and public-private partnerships, as well as the Network’s readiness to support the Kingdom of Lesotho in strengthening commercial ties and deepening innovation exchanges with key partners and stakeholders across the global institutional capital sector.

The courtesy visit reflects ECAN’s broader commitment to cultivating strategic relationships with African governments, diplomatic missions, business leaders, investors, and international development partners, while creating platforms that translate dialogue and relationships into meaningful economic opportunities and shared prosperity.

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About ECAN

ECAN is a non-profit organization dedicated to finance, innovation, and development in Africa. We convene influential leaders and thinkers dedicated to fostering partnerships to advance Africa’s expanding role and strategic influence in a fragmented world. A strategic circle of influence — where ambition and execution meet discretion and efficiency — ECAN’s core mandate is to strengthen commercial ties and deepen innovation exchanges. Membership is by invitation only — and typically reserved for highly accomplished and distinguished leaders and experts.

To learn more, visit www.econclubafrica.org