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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged investors to tap the abundant opportunities in Abuja to drive inclusive and lasting development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Abuja Business and Investment Summit in Abuja, Wike, represented by the FCT minister of state, Mariya Mahmoud, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to making Abuja not only Nigeria’s capital but also a beacon of sustainable development for the continent.
He framed the moment within Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, led by President Bola Tinubu, emphasising inclusive growth, infrastructure revitalization and job creation.
On the summit’s theme, “Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potentials in Emerging Markets,” Wike said it mirrors the FCT Administration’s drive to create an enabling environment for business and investment.
Infrastructure, he noted, remains the bedrock of industrialisation and economic progress. He outlined ongoing efforts to upgrade road networks that link satellite towns, area councils and rural communities with the city centre. “As Abuja embodies Nigeria’s aspirations, our mission, with the support of the President, is to grow a safe, investment-friendly city that empowers all residents,” the Minister stated.
He commended Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) for organising a flagship event designed to foster strategic partnerships and spur the FCT’s economic growth.
He also stressed the administration’s readiness to embrace new ideas and solutions, welcoming forums like this summit to spotlight investment opportunities and engage with emerging markets. He affirmed, “The FCT Administration remains steadfast in building a sustainable, flourishing capital city and elevating Nigeria’s standing on both the continental and global stages.”
In his keynote address, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, urged African investors to prioritise local investments, stressing that the continent’s economic future must be shaped by Africans themselves.
“Make your money, but please bring it home and invest locally,” Elumelu said.
“It will be a disservice to make so much and then keep the money in economies that are already developed.”
He highlighted that Africa’s economic transformation “will not be written in boardrooms in Washington or London but right here in Africa, in Nigeria, in Abuja and it will be written by Africans.”
Elumelu also underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to tackle poverty, saying, “Poverty anywhere is a threat to all of us everywhere.”
He revealed that the Tony Elumelu Foundation has supported 24,000 young Africans with training and a non-refundable $5,000 seed grant, including 641 beneficiaries from the FCT.
Earlier, Managing Director/CEO of Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), Maureen Tamuno, explained that ABIEXPO 2025 is aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda as it brings together a diverse mix of investors, entrepreneurs, innovators and development partners from Nigeria and around the world.
The group stated that the expo “aligns perfectly with the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda that continues to strengthen investors confidence, stabilise the micro-economy and to stimulate sustainable growth.”
Tamuno described ABIEXPO 2025 as a platform for international and local stakeholders to convene, noting that delegates from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, Botswana and other nations would participate alongside esteemed Nigerian partners.
She emphasised AICL’s role as the investment arm of the FCT Administration, highlighting that through its subsidiaries and strategic projects, the organisation remains a catalyst for sustainable growth and economic transformation.
The executive highlighted key features of this year’s programme, including dedicated youth day and women’s day activities designed to promote inclusion, connect innovators with investors and ensure that no one is left behind in Abuja’s evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Tamuno concluded with a forward-looking assertion: “ABIEXPO 2025 marks the next chapter of Abuja’s transformation into a resilient, globally competitive city.”
