The Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal, has urged members of the Indian business community to identify opportunities to expand their businesses, establish new ventures, share expertise and develop partnerships with the Iru Kingdom, assuring them of a warm welcome at the palace.
The Oniru made the call in Lagos when he hosted a delegation of the India Business Community in Nigeria under the auspices of the NRI Social & Cultural Association Nigeria (NRCAN) Business Forum.
“The doors of this Palace will remain open to those who come in good faith, with ideas worth sharing and a genuine desire to build something of lasting value. History teaches us that great cities are not built by government alone, nor by business alone. They are built by people who choose to trust one another. Let us build a future defined not only by commerce but by trust, collaboration and shared prosperity,” Oba Lawal opined.
To drive the collaboration, he announced the establishment of the Iru Business Network to serve as a meeting point for ideas, enterprise and partnerships as well as provide opportunities for business leaders, professionals, innovators and public institutions to meet, exchange knowledge and explore practical collaborations.
The monarch further explained that the Network was inspired by the philosophy that the combination of networking, relationships, trust, and collaboration would ultimately drive growth in a community.
“Lasting partnerships are rarely built in boardrooms alone. They are built through conversations such as this, through mutual respect, shared experiences and the trust that develops over time. To bring together people of goodwill. To create an atmosphere in which trust can flourish, because once trust exists, opportunity usually follows.
“Networking creates relationships, relationships build trust, trust creates collaboration and collaboration ultimately drives growth. Those four ideas capture the spirit of why we are gathered here. It is precisely this philosophy that inspired the establishment of the Iru Business Network,” he noted.
Oba Lawal reiterated that the role of the traditional institution was to build relationships, bring together people of goodwill, and create an atmosphere in which trust could flourish because once trust exists, opportunity would follow.
The Oniru also asserted that the Palace would gladly use its convening role to introduce the right people, encourage meaningful dialogue and support relationships that contribute to the prosperity of Iru Kingdom, Lagos State, and Nigeria.
Oba Lawal stated that the establishment of the Iru Business Network reflected the Palace’s commitment to cultural and economic diplomacy and its belief that great cities are built by people who choose to trust one another, asserting that the Network would further strengthen partnerships that advance trust, collaboration, and shared prosperity for Iru Kingdom, Lagos State and Nigeria.
The Oba emphasised that the gathering was about more than hospitality; it was about friendship, partnership, and building bridges between peoples that will outlive the present generation and benefit generations to come.