By Miriam Humbe
At the Investopia Conference, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, outlined the country’s commitment to strengthening investment opportunities and trade partnerships, particularly with the UAE and within Africa.
Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Adebayo Thomas disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
Speaking on Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination, Dr Oduwole highlighted the transformative reforms undertaken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the past 18 months.
“The President has implemented crucial reforms addressing currency stability, inflation, and fiscal policies, which are already yielding positive results. Now, our focus is on trade policy and investment,” she stated.
With the Central Bank Governor recently affirming the Naira’s competitiveness, Dr Oduwole emphasized Nigeria’s readiness for trade.
“We are open for business and eager to expand trade with the UAE. The strong diplomatic ties between our countries create a fertile ground for investment, particularly in construction services, energy, food security, digital trade, and mining,” she noted.
Sustainability remains at the forefront of Nigeria’s trade policies. Dr Jumoke underscored the government’s commitment to environmentally and labour-friendly investment practices.
“The global business landscape is shifting towards sustainable and impact-driven investments. As a government, we are aligning our policies to ensure Nigeria remains an attractive destination for responsible investors,” she said.
Addressing foreign direct investment (FDI), the Minister detailed the country’s strategy to risk transactions and foster sovereign wealth-backed partnerships, particularly with priority nations like the UAE.
“We are structuring investment deals to create a win-win scenario for all stakeholders,” she said.
Beyond bilateral trade, Dr Oduwole also assessed Nigeria’s role in intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Marking five years since its inception, she celebrated Nigeria’s recognition as a “Digital Trade Champion” and emphasized the country’s leadership in the tech sector.
“With over 200 million people, and five out of nine African unicorns coming from Nigeria, we are leveraging digital trade and services, which contribute over 50% of our GDP,” she said.
On the global stage, Dr Oduwole acknowledged the evolving geopolitical landscape and the increasing importance of self-reliance in Africa’s economic strategy.
“We must move beyond dependency and leverage new capital sources and trade partnerships. Africa’s multilateral institutions mobilized over $70 billion last year, demonstrating the continent’s potential to drive its own growth,” she said.
As Nigeria continues to optimize its trade agreements and attract strategic investments, Dr Oduwole reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for business.
“We keep our trade and investment strategies close to our chest, but one thing is certain—Nigeria is prepared to lead and excel in the new global economy.”
With Investopedia providing a platform for critical trade dialogues, Nigeria stands poised to strengthen its economic ties, drive sustainable investments, and champion regional trade across Africa and beyond.
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