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Investopia launched the Investopia – Africa event as part of the Investopia Global Talks at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. Organised in cooperation with SkyKapital and Eko Atlantic, the event contributed to strengthening economic and investment partnerships between the UAE and Nigeria across the new economy, finance and investment, infrastructure, logistics, trade, energy, renewable energy, technology, and biotechnology.
More than 300 participants attended the event, including ministers, government officials, businessmen, investors, economic experts, and representatives of leading private-sector companies and institutions, as well as major banks from the UAE and Nigeria, including EDGE, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Citigroup, Digital Energy, FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development, the African Finance Corporation, the West African Development Bank (Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement), First Bank of Nigeria, and McKinsey.
Investopia – Africa featured five panel sessions :
- Panel 1 : “A Strategic Partnership for Growth: Deepening UAE-Nigeria Economic Cooperation.” The session was attended by Mohamed Al Suwaidi and Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
Focused on strengthening economic and investment ties between the UAE and Nigeria, with emphasis on trade, energy, infrastructure, and sustainable private-sector collaboration to support long-term growth.
The panel explored opportunities to strengthen economic and investment partnerships between the two countries in light of the growth in bilateral relations at both government and private sector levels.
- Panel 2 : Infrastructure and Logistics for Africa’s Next Phase of Trade
Highlighted the role of modern infrastructure, ports, logistics corridors, and digital trade platforms in boosting Africa’s competitiveness, positioning Nigeria as a key gateway to West Africa with UAE expertise.
Participants in this session included Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State; Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority; and Martin Tricaud, Group Head of Wholesale Banking at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).
- Panel 3 : Mobilising Capital for Africa’s Growth
Explored how to convert capital into bankable projects across energy, infrastructure, and industry, stressing stronger partnerships between UAE investors, African institutions, and platforms like Investopia to accelerate delivery. - Panel 4 : Capital at Scale: Enabling Financial Systems That Mobilise Investment Across Africa
Examined how financial institutions can unlock large-scale, long-term financing through innovative structures, cross-border platforms, and regulatory reforms to attract global investment into Africa.
The session featured Miguel Azevedo, Vice Chairman of Investment Banking Middle East & Africa at Citigroup; Serge Ekue, President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD); and Olusegun Alebiosu, Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria, and was moderated by David Tabet, Chief Operating Officer at Investopia.
- Panel 5 : Securing the Supply Chain for Critical Technologies
Addressed the importance of resilient supply chains for critical technologies, highlighting localization, diversified sourcing, and global integration to strengthen economic resilience amid geopolitical and technological shifts. The session featured Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group; Farouk Gumel, Vice Chairman of Tropical General Investments; and Hafeez Giwa, Founder and Managing Partner at H Capital International.
Additionally, it also discussed the significance of expanding collaboration in trade, investment, energy, and infrastructure, as well as forging new and sustainable economic partnerships between the UAE and Nigerian business communities, supporting long-term growth and enhancing economic integration between both countries.
The Minister of Investment, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mr. Mohamed H. Alsuwaidi, has projected that the government and private sector of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would invest over $10 billion into the Nigerian economy within the coming years.
This comes as Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the country remains a strong landing board to invest and access the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Also, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged local and international investors to invest in the State, saying it is ready and willing to partner with them.
Participants discussed ways to enhance partnerships between the UAE’s business and investment ecosystem and development finance institutions and project operators across Africa. The role of platforms such as Investopia in maximising the outcomes of these partnerships was also highlighted, particularly in accelerating the transition from capital commitments to real-world delivery, as well as establishing pioneering projects and investment partnerships that drive growth for both sides.
In addition, the event hosted a series of B2B meetings and roundtables at government and private sector levels between the UAE and Nigeria, aimed at strengthening engagement between the Emirati and African business communities and encouraging investors and entrepreneurs from both countries to expand into new and strategic projects within the emerging and sustainable economy sectors.
The event also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Digital Energy and FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development, in the presence of the UAE Minister of Investment. The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in energy transition, knowledge exchange on artificial intelligence and data analytics solutions, and the promotion of operational efficiency and sustainability. Investopia Talks – Africa builds on the global reach of the Investopia Global Talks series, which has been hosted in over 21 cities around the world so far.
