The 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #32) will focus on investment in Nigeria’s economy and human capital as key drivers of job creation, productivity and shared prosperity.
The summit, themed “Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity,” will feature an “Invest Nigeria” dialogue aimed at examining how the country can mobilise capital at scale to accelerate economic growth while strengthening the human capital required to sustain development.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), organisers of the annual summit, said Nigeria’s economic transformation could only be achieved through sustained investment in businesses, industries, infrastructure, innovation and people.
According to the group, despite Nigeria’s enormous economic potential, current investment levels remain inadequate to generate the jobs, productivity gains and inclusive prosperity required to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.
The NESG said recent economic reforms designed to stabilise the macroeconomic environment, improve fiscal sustainability and restore investor confidence were important, but stressed that the next challenge was converting greater stability into productive investment.
It identified infrastructure deficits, limited access to long-term finance, regulatory uncertainty and high business costs as persistent constraints to investment and productive activity in the country.
The group said the Invest Nigeria dialogue would therefore focus not simply on attracting capital, but on ensuring that investments are channelled into sectors capable of generating broad economic value, improving productivity and creating opportunities for Nigerians.
The summit will examine opportunities for increased investment in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, energy, mining, logistics and the creative economy.
ALSO READ: NIHTE seeks AI-powered traffic enforcement to curb road violations
The NESG said unlocking these opportunities would require efforts to improve the investment climate, remove barriers to enterprise growth, deepen capital markets and strengthen policy frameworks that support long-term investment decisions.
It said NES #32 would explore strategies for mobilising domestic and foreign investment into productive sectors, including improved infrastructure financing, expanded access to credit, stronger public-private partnerships, industrialisation and the development of competitive value chains.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are also expected to receive particular attention at the summit.
According to the NESG, improving access to finance, reducing regulatory burdens and supporting business formalisation would help accelerate investment, enterprise growth and employment generation.
The second component of the Invest Nigeria agenda will focus on human capital development, with the NESG describing investment in people as critical to sustainable economic growth.
The group noted that although Nigeria has one of the world’s youngest populations, significant gaps persist in education, healthcare, workforce readiness and skills development.
NES #32 will consequently examine how investment in education, healthcare, digital literacy, vocational training and workforce development can improve productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness.
Particular attention will be given to aligning skills development with labour market demands to ensure that young Nigerians acquire the competencies required by a modern and rapidly changing economy.
The dialogue will also explore innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships and technology-enabled solutions for expanding access to quality human capital services.
The NESG said investment in industries and investment in people should be viewed as mutually reinforcing components of economic development.
It explained that stronger businesses could create jobs, generate incomes and expand economic opportunities, while a healthier, better-educated and more skilled workforce could drive productivity, innovation and competitiveness.
The Invest Nigeria dialogue will therefore bring together policymakers, investors, businesses, development partners and civil society to consider ways of accelerating investment-led growth while ensuring that its benefits are broadly shared.
The NESG called for increased commitment from stakeholders, saying the government must continue strengthening the policy environment, while the private sector should expand productive investment and innovation.
It added that development partners should support catalytic financing and capacity building, while educational institutions must prepare future generations for the demands of a changing economy.
The 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit will hold on October 26 and 27, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The summit is expected to bring together leaders from government, business, finance, academia and development institutions to develop actionable solutions for strengthening Nigeria’s investment ecosystem and placing investment at the centre of job creation, productivity growth and shared prosperity.
The NESG is a private sector-led policy advocacy and think tank organisation that has, for more than three decades, provided a platform for public-private dialogue on policies and strategies aimed at advancing Nigeria’s economic development.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV