The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially endorsed the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade (IMT) Summit and Exhibition 2025, positioning it as a strategic platform to catalyse sustainable industrial growth across West Africa.
The event, scheduled to take place from October 21 to 23, 2025, in Lagos, has received full backing from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, affirming Nigeria’s commitment to driving intra-African trade, fostering local manufacturing, and accelerating investment flows across the region.
The endorsement was conveyed in a formal statement issued by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, who noted that the ministry “formally endorses and consents to collaborate with dmg Nigeria events in the successful organisation of the West Africa IMT Summit and Exhibition 2025.”
Enoh praised the summit’s organisers for their dedication to fostering economic collaboration across the sub-region. He stressed that the government’s involvement signifies not just a ceremonial approval, but an actionable step toward achieving Nigeria’s and West Africa’s industrial transformation agenda.
Under the theme “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity,” the IMT Summit will bring together a high-powered delegation of policymakers, development partners, investors, trade analysts, and manufacturing leaders. Key deliverables expected from the event include policy harmonisation, regulatory reforms, investment showcases, and solutions to longstanding industrial bottlenecks, such as infrastructure gaps and inadequate local production capacity.
The summit is also seen as a timely intervention as West African countries adopt more inward-looking, value-driven trade and industrial policies. Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal are currently implementing policies that prioritise local content in public procurement, reliable energy for production, and industrial subsidies to empower domestic industries.
For instance, Nigeria’s “Nigeria First” policy, championed by President Bola Tinubu, mandates the use of Nigerian-made goods in all government procurement, while Ghana and Senegal are deploying similar frameworks that promote local value addition and regional competitiveness.
Wemimo Oyelana, Country Director for Nigeria and Portfolio Director, Energy at dmg Nigeria events, hailed the ministry’s endorsement as a landmark recognition of the summit’s strategic relevance. “This collaboration reinforces our shared vision to transform West Africa’s industrial landscape and connect regional production with global supply chains,” Oyelana said.
She further explained that the summit aims to move beyond policy talk to implementation, with sessions designed to unpack practical steps for increasing trade volumes, boosting manufacturing output, and attracting long-term foreign direct investment (FDI).
Experts say the West Africa IMT Summit aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives by facilitating the movement of goods and services across borders, harmonising regulations, and encouraging value-added production within the continent.
With West Africa’s industrial sector still facing stiff competition from more developed economies and manufacturing hubs in Asia, stakeholders believe such regional summits are essential in advancing continental self-reliance and reducing dependence on imports.
Nigeria’s endorsement comes at a time of renewed investor confidence in West Africa, spurred by new refinery projects, growing logistics infrastructure, and policy reforms that aim to streamline doing business in the region.
The expected participation of key manufacturing firms, international financiers, trade blocs, and SMEs reflects the growing recognition that industrialisation is central to job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusive economic growth in the region.
The summit’s agenda includes technical breakout sessions, CEO roundtables, cross-border trade case studies, and investment pitches aimed at building a vibrant, interconnected industrial economy in West Africa.
As the region eyes stronger industrial linkages and sustainable development, Nigeria’s leadership role in the IMT Summit reaffirms its strategic position as the economic powerhouse of the sub-region.