Nigeria’s Niger Delta Investment and Economic Summit, a high-level investment drive that targets the international market, has stated its confidence in Chinese investors to drive its targeted USD5 billion economic boost.
Speaking during the inauguration of consultants for the summit, Chairman of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), Ideare Gogo-Ogan, described the initiative as a strategic step towards unlocking the region’s vast economic potential.
Dagogo-Ogan elaborated on the concrete contributions of Chinese investors in Nigeria in various sectors of the economy and how they have been of positive impact in Nigeria.
He also noted that since China has a new policy of a zero-tariff regime on all goods exported from 53 countries of Africa, including Nigeria, his team has set its eyes on creating a Nigerian industrial hub that will benefit from the policy, which takes effect on May 1.
He said the Chamber has prepared necessary incentives to welcome Chinese and other global investors to its market, which covers nine states in Nigeria.
The planned investment summit is conceived as a high-impact investment platform, and is expected to bring together investors, policymakers, development partners, and industry leaders to explore scalable and bankable opportunities in the oil-rich region.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu is expected to flag off the summit scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
Ogan expressed confidence that the team assembled to organise the summit would deliver a world-class investment platform capable of reshaping the economic narrative of Nigeria’s Niger Delta, an oil and gas belt. According to him, while the region possesses enormous natural resources and economic opportunities, coordinated policies and strategic investment are needed to fully harness them.
The coordinating consultant for the summit is Tony Epelle, Managing Partner of Samuelson Advisory Partners, part of the Samuelson Consulting Group. Other consultants include marketing communications firm Neo Media and Marketing, founded by Ehi Braimah, and Ono K. Akpe of Red Sapphire Nig Ltd, a public relations and events management expert.
The summit is expected to feature keynote addresses, including one by Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, alongside goodwill messages, technical sessions, and plenary discussions. Other highlights will include sector-specific investment forums, policy roundtables, and deal-making platforms designed to address key economic issues affecting the region.
Dagogo-Ogan said the summit targets to have the Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Her Excellency Yan Yuqing as a special guest. He noted that plans are on to work out the possibility of her attendance, as that will further cement the confidence China has always expressed in being a viable partners in the growth of the Nigerian economy.
Organisers say the summit will attract key development partners, with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) expected to play a central role as a major supporter of the initiative.
The proposed theme for the event is “Driving Investment, Innovation, and Industrial Growth in the Niger Delta.”
According to the coordinating consultants, the summit aims to deliver measurable outcomes such as policy commitments, investment deals, and strategic partnerships that will accelerate development across the region.
Key sectors expected to dominate discussions include energy transition, optimisation of the oil and gas value chain, agriculture, the blue economy, infrastructure development, manufacturing, technology and digital innovation, environmental sustainability, and human capital development.
Organisers also plan to emphasise inclusive growth, peace-building, climate resilience and economic diversification across the Niger Delta, while encouraging stronger support for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises and youth-driven innovation.
