More than 100 international investors are expected in Abuja in November to explore investment opportunities estimated at over $100 billion across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
President of the Business Summit Group, Dato Dr. M. Haider Uzzaman, disclosed this in Abuja while unveiling plans for the International Investor Summit scheduled for November 10 and 11 at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Uzzaman said the summit would showcase bankable projects spanning oil and gas, technology, renewable energy, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, tourism and hospitality.
He stressed that the initiative would focus on projects that are properly structured, professionally documented and capable of delivering commercial returns.
According to him, Nigeria remains an attractive investment destination because of its huge population, vast natural resources, oil and gas reserves and expanding consumer market.
Uzzaman estimated that about $58 trillion in global capital is currently searching for viable investment opportunities, urging Nigerian businesses and project owners to position themselves to tap into the available funds.
He, however, warned that foreign investors would not commit capital to poorly prepared projects, saying Nigerian promoters must meet international standards by providing credible business plans, comprehensive documentation, professional management structures and clear evidence of profitability.
Also speaking, the General Manager and Group Chief Financial Officer of the Business Summit Group, Abdulazeez Jubril Salawudeen, said the organisation had previously organised investor summits and business engagements in countries including Thailand, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Salawudeen said the decision to hold the summit in Nigeria followed requests from Nigerian stakeholders who participated in earlier editions.
He identified Nigeria’s economic size, population and abundant investment opportunities as major factors behind the decision to make Abuja the next destination for the global investor engagement.
He explained that the summit would function primarily as a business matchmaking platform, allowing international investors to meet project owners directly, scrutinise proposals, negotiate financing terms and work towards investment agreements.
Uzzaman disclosed that Plateau State had attracted investment commitments exceeding $1 billion within the past six months, describing the development as evidence of the opportunities available to investors in Nigeria.
He added that investors from Saudi Arabia were also exploring opportunities in Nigeria’s livestock and poultry sectors, including projects designed to produce for export markets.
The Business Summit Group president said the proposed investments would be financed through a combination of equity and debt, with equity expected to constitute the larger portion.
He urged state governments, businesses and project promoters to use the opportunity to prepare and present credible, investment-ready projects, saying the summit could unlock foreign capital, generate employment and accelerate economic growth.
The organisers said the Abuja gathering is expected to provide a direct platform for connecting Nigerian projects with international capital at a time when businesses and governments are seeking fresh sources of financing for economic expansion.
