NEF 2026 to drive industrial growth, value addition
The 11th Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF) will focus on industrial growth and value addition as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy, strengthen local industries and unlock greater value from its natural resources.
The Chairman of NEF, Dr Daniel Adeuyi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
Adeuyi said the 2026 forum was designed to move beyond discussions and facilitate actionable partnerships that would accelerate Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
According to him, the forum will bring together key stakeholders from the energy, manufacturing, mining, finance, infrastructure and policy sectors.
He said the event would hold on June 30, 2026, at the Marcellina Conference Centre, Radisson Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The theme of the conference and exhibition is: “Upscaling Value Addition for Sustainable Industrialisation.”
Adeuyi said that for more than a decade, NEF had served as a leading multi-stakeholder platform, mobilising over $70 million in investments for clean energy and industrial infrastructure and attracting more than 8,000 participants globally.
He said participants over the years had included government officials, industry leaders, investors, development partners, researchers, entrepreneurs and young professionals engaged in discussions on Nigeria’s energy and industrial future.
Adeuyi said the 2026 edition would attract top decision-makers and stakeholders to explore practical solutions for improving energy reliability, expanding domestic manufacturing, strengthening mineral value chains and creating sustainable jobs.
He added that the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s report on lithium in Nigeria, which contains recommendations on innovative financing for indigenous critical mineral value-add projects, would be officially unveiled at the event.
The Co-Chairman of the forum, Mr Adekunle Makinde, said confirmed keynote speakers include executives from All On, GEF-SGP UNDP Nigeria, NISO, Hinckley Africa, UNIDO, MTN, Odu’a Investment Company Ltd. and the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office.
He said other speakers and panellists would include representatives of Kobold Metals, Greenage Technologies, NASENI, NCDMB, NRGI, Heifer International, African Climate Foundation and NASCON Allied Industries.
Makinde said Nigeria had significant opportunities to transform its economy through strategic value addition and industrial development.
“Nigeria cannot continue exporting raw materials while importing finished products at higher costs.
“The future of sustainable economic growth lies in local value addition, industrial processing, energy security, innovation and strategic investments that create jobs and build competitive industries,” he said.
According to him, the forum will feature keynote addresses, executive panel sessions, investment dialogues, technical presentations, innovation exhibitions and high-level networking opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Makinde said the event comes at a critical time as Nigeria seeks to create jobs, stabilise industrial output, boost export earnings and reduce dependence on imports.
He added that the forum is expected to attract more than 450 investors and businesses from around the world seeking opportunities in Nigeria’s evolving energy, manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Dr Bamise Olanrewaju, NEF 2026 Strategy and Innovation Co-Chair, said the fourth Tertiary Institutions Students Energy Pitch Contest finals and awards would also take place during the event.
Olanrewaju said the contest, sponsored for the fourth consecutive year by All On as part of activities marking its 10th anniversary, would feature the top 10 teams selected from 107 shortlisted teams.
She said the finalists emerged from 360 student innovators mentored by 91 faculty members from 36 tertiary institutions across 20 states.
According to her, the top three teams will receive grant prizes to support the scale-up of their homegrown clean energy solutions.
Olanrewaju said discussions at the forum would focus on powering sustainable industrialisation, promoting local manufacturing, infrastructure and artificial intelligence investments, scaling up renewable energy and advancing critical minerals processing.
She added that participants would have opportunities to engage with policymakers, business leaders, regulators, project developers, academics, financial institutions and international partners driving industrial and energy sector growth across Africa.