Niger Delta summit seeks $600m investment for blue economy

The second Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment Summit is expected to attract more than $600 million in investment capital to Nigeria’s blue economy sector.

The three-day summit, scheduled for March 18 to 20, 2027, will take place at Movela Hotels in Warri, Delta State.

Co-convener of the summit, Dr Uche Igwe, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists, saying the annual event would bring together government officials, private sector operators, academics, civil society groups, traditional institutions and community representatives to explore investment opportunities in the region.

Igwe said the maiden edition, held in February 2026, had helped establish partnerships and identify viable projects requiring funding and further development.

“Since our maiden edition last February, a lot has been achieved. We now have partners who understand our region and who have identified several feasible projects. It is now time to ensure that such projects are made bankable and the necessary funds are mobilised to move them from the drawing board to implementation,” he said.

He said the next edition would focus on developing investment pipelines and exploring innovative financing options, including blue bonds. He also commended the Delta State Government under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for creating an enabling environment for investment in the sector.

Also speaking, Senior Consultant at Gadfly Consulting Limited, Mr Philemon Oghenedoro Adjekuko, called for stronger collaboration between government agencies and private sector operators to support Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Adjekuko, who said he had spent the past three months engaging stakeholders in a study on blue finance, expressed optimism that the summit would turn viable projects into investment agreements, describing the blue economy as an important driver of economic diversification and growth in the non-oil sector.