The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has intensified its campaign to attract global investors to Nigeria, highlighting the country’s immense growth potential in technology, agribusiness, energy, and infrastructure.
Stakeholders projected that tapping these high-growth sectors could generate nearly a million new jobs, bolstering economic development and youth empowerment.
Speaking at the LCCI International Business Conference and Expo, themed ‘Invest Nigeria’, President Gabriel Idahosa encouraged foreign investors to look beyond perceived challenges and embrace Nigeria’s opportunities.
“Nigeria is open for business, Nigeria is ready for investment, and Nigeria is the future of Africa’s prosperity.
If you want to be part of Africa’s rise, you cannot afford to overlook Nigeria,” Idahosa stated, underscoring the country’s strategic position as Africa’s largest market with a youthful population exceeding 220 million.
He emphasized that sectors such as technology, creative industries, energy, agribusiness, and infrastructure remain largely untapped, offering enormous opportunities for investors seeking both financial returns and transformational impact.
“Investing in Nigeria is not just about profits. It’s about joining a story of a nation that refuses to be defined by its challenges but driven by its possibilities,” Idahosa added.
The summit attracted major players, including Heirs Holdings and global financial institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Dr. Awele Elumelu, Director of Heirs Holdings, praised the country’s entrepreneurial youth and highlighted the impact of private sector initiatives, including the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
“Economic instability presents opportunities for strategic investors. Africa’s youth are ambitious, dynamic, and innovative.
With access to capital, skills, and support, they form one of the most vibrant workforces globally,” Elumelu said.
She noted that over 24,000 entrepreneurs had been empowered by the foundation since 2010, creating more than 1.5 million jobs and generating over $4.2 billion in revenue across Africa.
The IFC projected that Nigeria could generate nearly a million new jobs if investors channel capital into key sectors.
Christian Malumalu, IFC Principal Country Director, highlighted opportunities in information and communications technology (ICT), pharmaceutical manufacturing, renewable energy, and agro-processing.
“Investment in digital infrastructure alone could create over 200,000 jobs. Agro-processing has the potential for 300,000 more, renewable energy another 250,000, and pharmaceutical manufacturing over 30,000,” Malumalu said.
He added that policy reforms, including subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and inflation control, had improved investor confidence and reduced volatility.
Despite these prospects, experts acknowledged persistent challenges.
Dr. Christian Ebeke, IMF Resident Representative in Nigeria, urged caution, noting low foreign direct investment inflows, limited domestic credit, and infrastructure deficits.
He highlighted insecurity, power sector reform, agricultural productivity, and governance as urgent priorities for sustainable growth.
The LCCI summit concluded with a strong message that Nigeria offers a unique combination of youthful talent, resource abundance, and strategic market access, making it a compelling investment destination.
Organizers urged global investors to seize the moment, emphasizing that timely investment could help shape Africa’s economic future while delivering substantial returns.
Nigeria’s focus on creating an enabling environment for investors, coupled with private sector-led initiatives, demonstrates a coordinated effort to position the country as Africa’s next high-potential investment frontier, capable of generating employment, innovation, and wealth creation on a continental scale.
As the conference highlighted, investing in Nigeria is not merely a financial decision—it is a strategic opportunity to be part of a transformational growth story, one that could define Africa’s economic trajectory for decades to come.