By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is seeking to intensify Abuja’s investment drive, with a call to local and international investors to tap into the city’s expanding opportunities to drive sustainable development.
Declaring open the 2025 Abuja Business and Investment Expo, ABIEXPO, on Tuesday, Wike said the Administration was determined to make Abuja not just Nigeria’s political capital but a model of economic transformation on the continent.
Represented by the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, the minister said “As Abuja symbolizes Nigeria’s aspirations, our mission, supported by Mr. President, is to make it a safe, investment-friendly city that empowers all citizens.”
He added that the summit’s theme, “Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potentials in Emerging Markets,” reflects President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on inclusive growth, infrastructure revitalization, and job creation.
Wike explained that the FCT Administration was prioritizing infrastructure projects linking satellite towns, area councils and rural communities to the city centre to expand industrial activities and boost productivity.
“The FCT Administration remains steadfast in building a sustainable, flourishing capital city and enhancing Nigeria’s position on the continental and global stage,” he stated.
Delivering his keynote address, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu, urged African investors to focus on building wealth at home, insisting that the continent’s growth must be driven by Africans themselves.
“Make your money, but please bring it home and invest locally. It will be a disservice to make so much and then keep the money in economies that are already developed.”
Elumelu further added 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.”
He warned that collaboration between the public and private sectors is key to tackling poverty, noting that “poverty anywhere is a threat to all of us everywhere.”
In her remarks, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Investment Company Limited, AICL, Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, said ABIEXPO 2025 represents the next phase in Abuja’s economic evolution, deepening investor confidence and driving new opportunities.
She said: “This Expo aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda that continues to strengthen investor confidence, stabilize the macro-economy, and stimulate sustainable growth.”
Tamuno disclosed that this year’s edition attracted delegates from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada and Botswana, alongside Nigerian investors, innovators, and policymakers.
“ABIEXPO 2025 marks the next chapter of Abuja’s transformation into a resilient, globally competitive city,” she said, adding that the programme features a dedicated Youth Day and Women’s Day to promote inclusion and connect innovators with investors.
Organised by Abuja Investment Company Limited, AICL, the Expo showcases Abuja’s investment opportunities across key sectors from infrastructure, renewable energy, and real estate to agriculture and technology.
