Cavista Holdings convened African and U.S. business leaders on Monday, September 21, at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, pushing a vision of 'partnerships' that funnel U.S. capital and technology into African markets under a globalist framework. The annual U.S.-Africa Leadership Dinner, held on the sidelines of the UNGA, focused on investment opportunities and practical challenges across sectors including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and critical minerals. This gathering represents a clear example of transnational elite interests shaping economic policy outside of national democratic processes.
Among the attendees were former President of Botswana Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, Nigeria’s Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Emir of Kano HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Governor of Zamfara State Dr. Dauda Lawal, and former Governor of Ekiti State and former Minister of Mines and Steel Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi. These figures represent the political class engaging with globalist financial structures.
The Globalist Mechanism
The event featured key figures driving this agenda. Niyi John Olajide, Chairman of Cavista Holdings and also Chairman of the Corporate Council on Africa, spoke alongside John Jovanovic, President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Sameh Shenouda, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer at Africa Finance Corporation, and Tom Sheehy, Principal at Quinella Global and Senior Advisor at KRL International, also participated. The presence of the Export-Import Bank, a U.S. government entity, at a UN-affiliated event underscores how national resources are leveraged for transnational projects.
Olajide articulated the vision: “The next phase of U.S.-Africa investment will be defined not simply by the availability of capital, but by the quality of the partnerships behind it.” He added that Africa needs “long-term capital,” while investors need “trusted local partners.” This language frames a system where capital and technology flow from the U.S., while African nations provide “local knowledge, resources, talent and access to growing markets.” It's a clear blueprint for a borderless economic order.
Jovanovic echoed this sentiment, stating, “Investing in Africa requires more than recognising the opportunity. It requires showing up early, understanding the market and building the right partnerships.” He emphasized that “American companies can bring capital, technology and trusted solutions, while African partners bring local knowledge, relationships and an understanding of what it takes to execute on the ground.” The Export-Import Bank's stated role is to “help make those partnerships possible and bring more private capital into projects that matter,” a vague definition that allows for broad interpretation of national interest.
Elite Interests and Capital Flow
Cavista Holdings itself exemplifies the transnational nature of these operations. The company has invested in and runs businesses across agriculture, food processing, financial services, hospitality, and technology. In Nigeria, Agbeyewa Farms is developing a large-scale cassava value chain, and Matna Foods processes cassava. PayZeep operates in financial services in Nigeria and Botswana. Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort represents Cavista Holdings' hospitality investment. Through Cavista Technologies, the group operates across Nigeria, India, Botswana, the Philippines, and the United States, providing technology services globally. This extensive global footprint demonstrates how capital and technology are deployed across borders, often bypassing the direct benefit to the native working class in any single nation.
Shenouda from the Africa Finance Corporation reinforced the narrative, stating, “Africa is increasingly central to the global economy, but capturing its opportunities requires more than capital.” He stressed the need for “deep local knowledge and the ability to navigate very different markets and execute successfully.” This perspective prioritizes the capture of opportunities for global capital over the self-determination of sovereign peoples.
Cavista Holdings stated its activities around the UN General Assembly and its annual dinner are part of a “broader effort to deepen commercial relationships between African businesses and global partners.” This is not about national development but about moving “from interest to investment, and from investment to execution” within a transnational framework, further entrenching the influence of globalist institutions and corporate elites.