The Federal Government has restated its commitment to expanding non-oil exports and attracting quality investment to position Nigerian enterprises for sustained economic growth.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, gave the assurance at the Domestic Investment Summit on Monday in Abuja, themed “Operationalising Nigeria First Policy”.
She said the summit focused on the critical role of domestic capital, enterprise, and innovation in bolstering Nigeria’s economic resilience, inclusivity, and competitiveness on the global stage.
According to Oduwole, the event aimed to deepen collaboration between the public and private sectors on investment incentives and regulatory co-creation.
“These efforts reinforce our ministry’s determination to strengthen non-oil exports, attract high-quality investment, and enable Nigerian enterprises to thrive locally, regionally, and globally,” she said.
“Nigeria is not starting from zero; we are leveraging our strengths and implementing deliberate policies to seize the opportunities before us. With the right execution, we can secure a place among the top 10 global players in selected industrial sectors.”
Oduwole added that the ministry was aligning the tariff regime with industrial priorities and streamlining trade procedures to reduce costs and enhance competitiveness. She noted that Nigeria had concluded the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Policy Review as part of efforts to modernise the nation’s trade framework in line with international best practices.
She also highlighted progress in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides entrepreneurs access to a $3.4 trillion integrated market.
“We were the first country to complete the AfCFTA Five-Year Implementation Review. We are offering the infrastructure clarity and fiscal certainty that investors require,” she said.
Describing the summit as a platform for engagement and inclusive co-creation, Oduwole emphasised that the ministry’s task was to turn ambition into productivity and productivity into competitiveness under the Nigeria First Policy.
She expressed gratitude to stakeholders, calling them the “heart and hope” of Nigeria’s growth. “To every company here today: we see you, we value you. You are the builders of jobs, innovation, and resilience,” she said.
“Together, we must invest in trade, capital management, financial sector development, education, skills inclusion, micro and small enterprises, women, and above all, macroeconomic and institutional stability.”
President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr Jani Ibrahim, described the summit as a call for action.
“It is a call for stronger partnerships, strategic collaboration, and shared responsibility for Nigeria’s economic future,” Ibrahim said, reaffirming the commitment of the Organised Private Sector to work with government and stakeholders to deepen economic diversification and attract sustainable domestic investments that create jobs and shared prosperity.
