At the forefront of this year’s Nigeria Development and Finance Forum Conference will be discussions on how to harness investment opportunities available in Nigeria’s $100bn sustainable investment alongside the blue economy.
According to the news gathered, on Tuesday, disclosed that the conference themed ‘The Road to Economic and Social Welfare Transformation,’ will be a high-level gathering of public, private, social, and international sector leaders scheduled to be held in May in Abuja.
Jide Akintunde, the Director of NDFF, said, “The overarching aim of the conference is to provide strong backing for a holistic and transformative reform agenda for the Nigerian economy to foster sustainable economic progress in the country.
“Besides addressing broader issues of fiscal policy for job creation, revitalising industries and markets, and health and social welfare, we will host two industry-focused sessions on the blue and green economies.”
He said, the worldwide blue or ocean economy, which encompasses all economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coasts, is valued at around $1.5tn per annual and is set to double by 2030 to $3tn.
“Among the recent impetuses for higher growth prospects of the Nigerian blue economy is the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the extension of the Nigerian seaward continental boundaries from 200 to 220 nautical miles by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
“The Nigerian blue economy still requires more policy support, market frameworks, and investments to deliver on the prospects of the sector. The conference will, therefore, bring stakeholders together to address the challenges and provide insights for harnessing the growth opportunities in the sector,” he stated.
Akintunde stated that, it would also be showcasing the Nigerian green economy, to boost investment for the nation’s sustainable development.
“The focus of green growth strategies is ensuring that natural assets can deliver their full economic potential on a sustainable basis.
“Given the opportunities in tech, agriculture, manufacturing, power, transportation, etc., Nigeria’s sustainable investment opportunities have been valued at $100bn annually. Our high-level panel of experts will discuss how to unlock the investment potential,” he noted.
Akintunde noted that the conference was strategically timed to be held close to the first anniversary of the President Bola Tinubu administration to provide a structured interface between policymakers, industry leaders, civil society leaders, academics, and leaders of international institutions to maximise the positive impact of economic reform.
NDFF was conceived to provide briefings to international investors, the global policy community, and Nigerians in the diaspora on the Nigerian policy and investment climate and opportunities. Its previous conferences were successfully hosted in London, Washington D.C., and New York.
