This study investigated the impact of trade openness and foreign direct investment on economic growth in Nigeria and South Africa from 1960 to 2013 using Johansen co-integration technique. Results from the vector error correction modelling (VECM) supports the existence of a long run relationship among economic growth, trade openness and FDI in Nigeria and South Africa. The error terms show a speed of adjustment to equilibrium at 45% and 13% of previous shocks. The short-run parameters show that trade openness has impacted negatively on growth in Nigeria but positively in South Africa while FDI has impacted on growth positively in both countries. Expectedly, lending rate impacts negatively on growth in both countries. However, inflation impacts negatively on growth in Nigeria but positively on growth in South Africa. Based on this, the study recommends that Nigeria should implement policies that would boost its volume of trade with the rest of the world. Likewise, South Africa should continue its policy of trade openness as it spurs its growth in the long run. Finally, Nigeria and South Africa should encourage policies that attract FDI as it impacts positively on their economic growths

KEYWORDS: Globalisation, Foreign Investment, Trade Openness, Economic Growth.