President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria will co-host Investopia with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Lagos in February, as part of efforts to attract global investors and boost sustainable investment inflows into the country.
The President made the announcement on Tuesday at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), where Nigeria also concluded a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE. The agreement is designed to deepen bilateral trade and cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, digital trade, aviation, agriculture and climate-smart infrastructure.
Present at the signing ceremony were President Tinubu; UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
President Tinubu described CEPA as a historic and strategic agreement that would create enduring opportunities for citizens of both countries. He said Investopia would serve as a platform bringing together investors, innovators, policymakers and business leaders to turn ideas into concrete investments.
He disclosed that Nigeria aims to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance as it accelerates energy transition reforms and expands electricity access nationwide.
According to the President, Nigeria is advocating reforms in the global financial architecture to reduce reliance on sovereign guarantees for developing economies, while promoting blended finance and first-loss capital mechanisms to attract private sustainable investments.
Tinubu also highlighted Nigeria’s strengthened climate governance framework, including the adoption of a National Carbon Market Activation Policy and the launch of a National Carbon Registry to boost transparency and investor confidence.
He described the Electricity Act 2023 as a key pillar of the country’s energy reforms, enabling decentralised power generation and distribution, particularly for underserved communities. He added that Nigeria’s climate investment efforts include a $500 million distributed renewable energy fund backed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and a $750 million World Bank programme expected to expand clean electricity access to over 17.5 million people.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2060 under its Energy Transition Plan, President Tinubu invited foreign investors to partner in Nigeria’s lithium and critical minerals sector, with an emphasis on local processing and value addition.
The President noted that ongoing economic reforms are yielding results, citing a 21 per cent growth in non-oil exports, increased capital importation and over $50 billion in investment commitments across key sectors. He assured that Nigeria remains open to partnerships aimed at delivering green, inclusive and sustainable development.