Speakers at the 2026 Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit have called for stronger collaboration among governments, businesses and other stakeholders to accelerate industrialisation and economic development in the region.
The call was made during the summit organised by the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the theme, “Driving Investment, Innovation and Industrial Growth in the Niger Delta.”
Delivering the keynote address, renowned banker Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said the Niger Delta must move beyond dependence on its natural resources by developing systems that can convert those resources into productive and industrial ventures.
Aig-Imoukhuede proposed a 2050 regional economic development vision, stressing the need for a coordinated regional economy where the area’s natural and human resources could be harnessed for sustainable production.
He called for the establishment of a regional development compact that would bring government and the private sector together around shared economic objectives.
According to him, international development partners are willing to invest in the region but require credible platforms with the capacity to coordinate and implement a long-term development vision.
He also identified human capital development, community empowerment and inclusive development as essential to building a peaceful and productive environment for investment.
Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Chiedu Ebie, also stressed the importance of cooperation among stakeholders, urging governors across the Niger Delta to embrace regional collaboration as a pathway to faster development.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, called for the creation of a Niger Delta Think Tank Team that would help develop and drive practical strategies for the region’s economic growth.
Ogbuku said the region’s greatest asset is its people, emphasising the need to strengthen human capacity across different sectors of the economy.
He disclosed that the NDDC was supporting the chamber’s efforts to expand businesses in the region with an initial ₦5 billion take-off fund for its financing initiative.
The NDDC boss explained that the facility was designed as a low-interest, single-digit loan, with prospective beneficiaries required to register with the chamber to qualify.
Ogbuku further advocated regional cooperation in infrastructure development, noting that states could work together to establish power projects, railway networks and regional roads that would support economic activities.
He also expressed concern about capital flight from the region, particularly where international companies benefit from its resources without creating sufficient employment and other economic opportunities for local communities.
In his remarks, NDCCITMA Chairman, Idaere Ogan, said the summit was convened to identify investment opportunities and chart a new direction for economic development in the Niger Delta.
Ogan disclosed plans by the chamber to establish an agricultural hub designed to connect farming with processing and production within the region.
He said the Niger Delta possesses significant economic potential capable of competing globally and described the region as ready for increased investment.
According to him, more than 4,000 people from the region have already benefited from the NDCCITMA single-digit loan scheme to support business expansion.
Also speaking virtually, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, highlighted gaps in various aspects of human welfare in the region and challenged stakeholders to maximise opportunities in agriculture and the blue economy.
Governors of NDDC mandate states, represented at the summit, also delivered goodwill messages and expressed support for initiatives aimed at promoting regional development.
Across the various presentations, speakers repeatedly emphasised one central message: the Niger Delta has significant resources and opportunities, but stronger cooperation and coordinated action are needed to turn those opportunities into sustainable industrial and economic growth.
