Stakeholders at the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit have called for stronger investment in local industries, marine infrastructure and homegrown solutions, as government leaders and economic experts outlined strategies to drive growth and create jobs.
The summit, themed “Harnessing Our Strengths, Unlocking Our Potentials,” is hosted by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, with Vice President Kashim Shettima as the Special Guest of Honour.
The event also features WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as keynote speaker, and renowned Pan-African scholar, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, as guest speaker.
Discussions at the event centred on how states can leverage their natural resources, promote local manufacturing and attract investment to build sustainable economies.
Vice President Shettima said Nigeria’s economic indicators were showing signs of improvement, highlighting increased foreign reserves and capital inflows.
He said the country had moved from a period of limited capital availability to a more favourable investment environment.
“When we are experiencing capital flight and capital scarcity, now we are experiencing capital inflows,” Shettima said. “So that our foreign reserves has gone up to over 52 billion and counting. In a troubling world, I think the President deserves commendation and not condemnation.”
The Vice President also commended Delta State for its contributions to national economic conversations and efforts to communicate government policies to Nigerians.
Okonjo-Iweala Urges Delta To Develop Marine Economy
Okonjo-Iweala urged Delta State to take advantage of its coastal location by investing in marine infrastructure, port services and ship repair facilities.
She said the state’s seaports, export terminals and commercial centres provide opportunities for developing a marine logistics hub that could create employment opportunities for young people.
“The state's seaports, export terminals, and commercial centres provide a base for port services, ship repair, and marine logistics,” Okonjo-Iweala said. “Turn Delta State into a marine logistics hub.”
She added that developing the sector could position Delta as a major player in maritime services and strengthen its contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
Soludo Calls For Made-In-Nigeria Push
Soludo used his remarks to call for a stronger commitment to locally produced goods, warning that Nigeria cannot achieve the level of job creation it needs while relying heavily on imported products.
“We cannot create the kind of jobs that we want with all of us patronising foreign or imported goods,” he said.
The Anambra governor said Nigerians must support local industries and embrace African-made products, arguing that consumer choices have a direct impact on economic opportunities.
“If all of us, 247 million Nigerians, were only made in Nigeria, more than 10 million jobs will be created,” Soludo said.
He cited the growth of indigenous fashion businesses as evidence that local production can improve livelihoods and expand economic opportunities.
Lumumba Calls For African-Led Development
Lumumba urged Delta State and other African governments to focus on innovation, technology and value addition rather than depending on external solutions.
He said Delta’s economic size and natural resources, including agriculture, minerals, oil, pharmaceuticals and the blue economy, provide a foundation for growth if properly harnessed.
“With all the resources that we have, whether we are talking about agriculture, minerals, whether we are talking about oil, whether we are talking about pharmaceutical sectors, whether we are talking about the blue economy, what are we doing that is in keeping with the demands of the 21st century?” Lumumba asked.
He warned that Africa must develop its own capacity in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence instead of relying solely on foreign systems.
“The world now talks about artificial intelligence. But who controls the artificial intelligence that we consume in the continent of Africa? It is not us. It could be withdrawn in the twinkling of an eye and we go back to the dark ages,” he said.
Lumumba also challenged African countries to rethink their approach to investment, saying Africans must recognise their own capacity to finance development.
“We still don't think that fellow Africans are investors. We think that our investors must be Malaysians. We think that our investors must be Brazilians. We think that our investors must be Chinese. That is not the case,” he said.
He pointed to the Pan-African Investment Movement, which he said was created to encourage Africans to pool resources and invest across the continent.
The summit highlighted the need for collaboration between government, businesses and citizens to unlock economic opportunities and build a more competitive Nigerian economy.
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