Organisers of the World Integrated Economic Growth Initiative (WIEG) Investment Summit are projecting investment deals exceeding $500 million across key sectors of Nigeria’s economy, including the creative industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, energy transition and aviation.

The investment summit, scheduled to hold in Lagos on February 25 and 26, is expected to bring together policymakers, global investors and Nigerian businesses seeking structured funding to expand their operations.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos, Lead Consultant of the summit, Bassey Essien, disclosed that commitments had already been secured from about 20 major investors, largely from Malaysia and other Asian countries. He said the February event would be the first in a series of investment-focused engagements aimed at unlocking sustainable capital for Nigerian enterprises.

According to Essien, the summit’s theme, “Nigeria’s Next Frontier: Unlocking Sustainable Investments for Economic Transformation,” reflects the growing interest of foreign investors in Nigeria’s emerging sectors, particularly areas with strong job-creation potential.

He explained that the summit was designed to address long-standing funding challenges faced by MSMEs, cooperatives and growing businesses, many of which struggle to scale due to limited access to structured financing.
“The idea is to create a platform where policymakers, private investors and investment-ready businesses can interact directly in a practical, results-driven environment,” Essien said.

He noted that the creative industry has been identified as a major priority, citing its contribution of about 2.5 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and its rising global appeal. According to him, investors are showing strong interest in funding music, fashion, film, media and advertising, particularly platforms driven by technology.

On the energy transition, Essien said renewable energy solutions were gaining traction among investors as power supply challenges continue to increase production costs nationwide. He added that scaling renewable energy projects could help reduce energy expenses, improve productivity and lower the cost of goods.

The aviation sector was also highlighted as a major investment opportunity, with Essien pointing to Nigeria’s lack of local aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities, as well as limited commercial air cargo infrastructure.
“Nigerian airlines spend huge sums maintaining aircraft abroad.

Developing local capacity in this area would significantly reduce costs and strengthen the aviation industry,” he said.

Essien further observed that many Nigerian businesses fail to attract funding due to gaps in investment readiness, including poor documentation and feasibility studies that do not meet international financiers’ standards.

He stressed that while financial institutions maintain strict requirements, businesses must be willing to invest in professional consultancy and compliance to meet those benchmarks.

Addressing policy-related concerns, Essien said frequent policy changes and weak post-intervention monitoring had continued to affect investor confidence, urging stronger coordination between government agencies and private sector players.

He revealed that the second day of the summit would focus on direct deal-making, featuring sector-specific roundtables involving investors, business promoters, legal advisers, financial experts and policymakers. These sessions, he said, would allow real-time clarification of regulatory, tax and policy issues.

To ensure continuity beyond the event, Essien said post-summit deal tracking would be implemented with support from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays and supporting the implementation of agreed investments.

He added that the summit is privately driven, non-partisan and focused on job creation, women’s empowerment and boosting investor confidence.

“The goal is to create a clear pathway from policy to capital and ultimately to enterprise growth, without placing any financial burden on the government,” Essien said.