In a major bid to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), the World International Economic Group (WIEG) Nigeria has announced its inaugural International Investment Summit, scheduled for February 25 and 26, 2026, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Under the theme “Nigeria’s Next Frontier: Unlocking Sustainable Investments for Economic Transformation,” the summit aims to bridge the gap between global capital and investment-ready Nigerian enterprises. Organizers, led by Project & Event Consultant Mr. Bassey Essien, have already secured commitments from approximately 20 frontline investors—predominantly from Malaysia and other Asian nations—with a target of closing deals worth over $500 million.
1. Breaking Barriers to “Investment Readiness”
The summit identifies that the problem isn’t a lack of global capital, but rather a “readiness gap” among Nigerian businesses.
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The High Cost of Preparation: Essien noted that successful enterprises often invest up to ₦200 million in professional feasibility studies to meet international banking standards (e.g., AfDB).
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The “Three Barriers”: Poor documentation, limited access to structured funding, and weak intellectual property (IP) protection are the primary hurdles the summit aims to resolve through curated “Deal Rooms.”
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Collateral-Free Potential: By ensuring proper documentation and IP regularization, the summit intends to help SMEs access funding without the traditional burden of heavy physical collateral.
2. Strategic Sector Focus
The 2026 summit has prioritized high-growth sectors that contribute significantly to the GDP but remain underfinanced:
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The Creative Economy: Contributing roughly 2.5% to Nigeria’s GDP, this sector will see dedicated partnerships with the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP) to fund Nollywood, fashion, and music projects.
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Energy Transition: A major focus on renewable energy solutions to reduce the ₦-trillion annual expenditure on fuel for generators.
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Aviation & Infrastructure: Spotlighting the establishment of local Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to curb the billions spent on aircraft maintenance abroad.
3. Accountability and Post-Summit Monitoring
Learning from the failure of past summits, WIEG is introducing a rigorous tracking mechanism.
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NIPC Partnership: The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) will oversee post-event monitoring to ensure that Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) actually translate into operational projects.
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Governance Standards: Through collaboration with B Lab Africa, the summit will help SMEs adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, making them more attractive to global impact investors.
WIEG Investment Summit: 2026 Projections
| Metric | Goal / Target |
| FDI Target | $500 Million+ |
| Confirmed Investors | 20+ (Global) |
| Expected Participants | 500+ Delegates |
| Key Output | MOUs, Deal Closures, IP Regularization |
| Priority Sectors | Creative, Agri, Energy, Aviation, Finance |
“Enterprises that succeed understand the importance of preparation… We are creating a structured pathway from policy to capital to enterprise growth.” — Bassey Essien, February 2026.
