Nigeria, UAE to co-host ‘Investopia Lagos’ as Tinubu signs major trade pact in Abu Dhabi
By Kunle Sanni –
President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria will co-host the Investopia global investment forum with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Lagos this February, in a move aimed at attracting international investors and boosting sustainable investment inflows into the country.
The announcement was made on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026, where Nigeria also concluded a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE to strengthen trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The CEPA was signed in the presence of President Tinubu; UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
President Tinubu described the agreement as a historic and strategic milestone, noting that it would expand collaboration in key sectors such as aviation, logistics, agriculture, renewable energy, climate-smart infrastructure, and digital trade, while unlocking long-term economic opportunities for both nations.
He said Investopia Lagos would serve as a high-level platform bringing together global investors, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to convert ideas into tangible investments that support shared prosperity.
Speaking at the summit, Tinubu said Nigeria is targeting up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial financing as it accelerates energy transition reforms and expands electricity access nationwide.
He emphasised that electricity remains central to economic growth, adding that Nigeria is pursuing a balanced approach to industrialisation and decarbonisation. The President also called for reforms in the global financial system to prioritise blended finance and first-loss capital rather than restrictive sovereign guarantees.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria has strengthened its climate governance through the adoption of a National Carbon Market Activation Policy and the establishment of a National Carbon Registry to enhance transparency and investor confidence.
