ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria will co-host Investopia with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Lagos this February, an initiative aimed at attracting global investors and accelerating sustainable investment inflows.
This announcement was made in a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy)
During the announcement at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), Nigeria also finalized a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE to deepen trade and cooperation in key sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, and digital trade. Present at the signing of the agreement were President Tinubu, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
President Tinubu described CEPA as a “historic and strategic agreement” that will enhance cooperation in aviation, logistics, agriculture, and climate-smart infrastructure, creating enduring opportunities for the people of both countries. He stated that Investopia will bring together investors, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to transform opportunities into commitments and ideas into investments.
“We warmly invite our partners to join us and help build the next chapter of sustainable and shared prosperity for Nigeria, Africa, and the world,” President Tinubu said.
The President emphasized Nigeria’s goal to mobilize up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance as the country accelerates energy transition reforms and expands nationwide electricity access. “The foundation of every modern economy is electricity. As an emerging economy in the Global South, we understand the delicate balance between industrialization and decarbonization, ensuring neither is pursued at the expense of the other,” he said.
President Tinubu called for a fundamental shift in the global financial architecture, advocating for a move away from the restrictive requirement of sovereign guarantees, which he argued unfairly penalize developing economies. “Instead, the focus should be on blended finance and first-loss capital mechanisms that allow private sustainable capital flows directly into our green projects without further straining national balance sheets,” he added.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s strengthened climate governance framework, which includes the adoption of a National Carbon Market Activation Policy and the launch of a National Carbon Registry to improve transparency and investor confidence.
The President noted that the Electricity Act 2023 serves as a central pillar of Nigeria’s energy reforms, enabling decentralized power generation and distribution to underserved communities. He mentioned Nigeria’s climate investment drive, which includes a $500 million distributed renewable energy fund backed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and a $750 million World Bank program aimed at expanding clean electricity access to more than 17.5 million people.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s target of net-zero emissions by 2060 under its Energy Transition Plan, President Tinubu invited foreign investors to partner in Nigeria’s lithium and critical minerals sector, emphasizing the government’s priority on local processing and value addition.
He concluded by stating that Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms are yielding significant results, including a 21 percent growth in non-oil exports. “These reforms, alongside wider fiscal and monetary measures, are delivering results. Non-oil exports have grown by 21 percent, supported by a more diversified product base. Capital importation has risen, and Nigeria now has over $50 billion in investment commitments across key sectors,” he said.
“We are ready to work with partners across the world to ensure that the next era of development is not only green and inclusive, but just and enduring,” President Tinubu asserted.
Leave a Reply