BY DANIEL IDONOR
ABUJA—WORLD-CLASS Nigerian industrialists and businessmen are part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s four days tour of three African countries, including Rwanda, Ethiopia and Ghana, which began Wednesday.

Key members of the Organised Private Sector, OPS, on  President Jonathan’s entourage include Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, Managing Director of Access Bank, Alhaji Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group, Mr. Jim Ovia, founder of Visafone and Mr. Tony Elumelu of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

From the public sector, the list of officials accompanying the President has Senator Andy Uba,  Ibrahim El-Sudi, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, and Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment.

The Presidency said the inclusion of the businessmen on the delegation was “in fulfillment of his (Jonathan) stated desire to strengthen the Nigerian economy and generate growth”.

It further said the team of Nigerian businessmen who are accompanying President Jonathan to Rwanda, will meet their Rwandese counterparts over today

A statement by the Presidential Spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, said bilateral talks and signing of a communiqué to formalize all agreements reached between  Nigeria and Rwanda will be the high point of President Jonathan’s visit to that country.

The talks, to be held in President Paul Kagame’s office in the Presidential Palace, Urugwiro, will be preceded by a visit to the Genocide Memorial Site, in Kigali, where President Jonathan will lay a wreath. The two leaders will address a joint press conference before President Jonathan’s departure to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, President Jonathan will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, address a joint press conference, and meet with a cross-section of the Nigerian community in that country.

President Jonathan, while in Ghana, will be conferred with an Honourary Doctorate Degree by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee, and be hosted to a State Banquet by President John Atta-Mills at The Castle, Accra.

He will also lay a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and meet with a cross-section of the Nigerian business community and other Nigerians in Accra.