RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
Experts in finance, business and economic development have identified the shortage of well-structured, investment-ready projects as a major challenge limiting Nigeria’s ability to attract and effectively deploy available capital.
The experts spoke at the 2026 Chief Executive Officer Forum of the UN Global Compact Network Nigeria, held in Lagos with the theme, “Financing a Dignified Future: Aligning Capital, Policy and Business Action.”
The forum brought together business leaders, policymakers, financial institutions and development partners to examine ways of connecting capital with projects capable of driving economic growth and productivity.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the UN Global Compact Network Nigeria, Naomi Nwokolo, called on business leaders to move beyond repeatedly highlighting structural challenges and focus on practical solutions capable of strengthening competitiveness, improving wages and promoting sustainable growth.
The Director-General of the Northwest Governors Forum, Maryam Musa Yahaya, said state governments had a role to play in attracting investment by working directly with investors to address challenges such as inadequate power supply, regulatory difficulties and insecurity.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, highlighted his administration’s 10-year development plan, which he said was designed to improve policy certainty, strengthen access to geophysical data and increase the state’s internally generated revenue.
Speaking on access to finance, FirstBank Deputy Managing Director, Ini Ebong, said financial inclusion should be regarded as essential economic infrastructure rather than a corporate social responsibility initiative.
Ebong also identified weak financial records and inadequate corporate governance as some of the factors preventing many small businesses from becoming eligible for formal financing.
The Group Chief Operating Officer of Custodian Investment, Adeniyi Falade, said the limited availability of investment-ready infrastructure projects was restricting the deployment of institutional funds.
According to Falade, Nigeria’s pension industry has about N32tn in assets, but less than three per cent is invested in infrastructure because of the shortage of properly structured and bankable projects.
The Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Anthony Youdeowei, said solving Nigeria’s energy challenges would require significant investment in electricity distribution infrastructure, supported by tariff structures that provide sufficient clarity for investors.
Also speaking, Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, said international investors were increasingly selective and placed emphasis on transparency, reliable data and credible feasibility studies when considering investment opportunities.
He added that bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Nigeria had exceeded $3bn, underscoring the potential for further economic cooperation between both countries.
The discussions show the need for stronger collaboration among governments, businesses and financial institutions to develop projects capable of absorbing available capital and delivering measurable economic returns.
