February 06, (THEWILL) — The World International Economic Group (WIEG) has outlined plans to reposition Nigeria as a frontier for sustainable, impact-driven investment as it prepares for the WIEG Investment Summit, scheduled for February 25 and 26, 2026.
As part of the build-up to the summit, WIEG held its Pre-Summit Conference on Friday, February 6, at Compact Communication Ltd. The session was led by Mr Bassey Essien, Lead Consultant for the WIEG Investment Summit, who said the briefing was designed to explain the summit’s objectives and structure, while clarifying how the event aligns with Nigeria’s economic growth agenda and enterprise development priorities.
According to Essien, the purpose of the pre-summit was to unfold the essence and envisaged impact of the investment summit, which is themed “Nigeria’s First Frontier: Unlocking Sustainable Investment.” He noted that the summit is conceived as a practical platform to move Nigeria’s investment conversations from policy formulation to measurable market outcomes.
Essien identified several structural challenges within Nigeria’s macro-economic space that WIEG seeks to address through the summit. Chief among them is the difficulty enterprises face in accessing structured funding, particularly long-term capital suited for growth and sustainability.
He also pointed to gaps in investment readiness and compliance among businesses, explaining that many enterprises are reluctant to invest in proper knowledge acquisition and professional consultancy services. This often results in weak feasibility studies and poorly structured business documentation that fail to meet financiers’ requirements, widening the disconnect between entrepreneurs and potential investors.
Another major challenge highlighted is the fragmented engagement between policymakers, investors and market actors. Essien noted that frequent policy changes and limited clarity often leave businesses struggling to interpret regulations, especially as government transitions introduce new frameworks.
In addition, he identified weak post-intervention tracking mechanisms, stressing the need for stronger monitoring of policy outcomes. According to him, governments must be more actively involved in assessing the effectiveness of interventions in order to make timely adjustments and improve results.
Against this backdrop, Essien said the WIEG Investment Summit is designed as a private sector-led initiative that connects policy, private capital and investment-ready enterprises. He emphasised that the summit places strong focus on execution and accountability, rather than dialogue alone.
Special attention, he said, will be given to the creative sector, which currently contributes about 2.5 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and has generated significant interest among investors participating in the summit. WIEG is also working with a first-class financial institution to support enterprises, particularly in the creative industry, in converting ideas into bankable intellectual property.
Essien identified lack of knowledge and preparedness as the major gap preventing creative professionals from accessing finance, noting that while funding is available, banks increasingly demand stronger structures, documentation, and compliance.
The summit has identified four priority sectors for engagement and deal-making:
Agriculture
Finance
Energy
Aviation
In addition to these sectors, the summit will host targeted discussions around women-owned businesses, enterprise expansion, and inclusive growth.
WIEG disclosed that over 20 investors, primarily from Asia, mainly Malaysia, as well as select African countries, are expected to participate in the summit, with a combined investment appetite of about $50 million. Essien stressed that WIEG is more impact-focused than profit-oriented, prioritising investments that generate jobs, expand businesses, and strengthen investor confidence.
The two-day summit has been deliberately structured to balance engagement and execution. Day One will focus on policy dialogue, stakeholder conversations, and presentations outlining WIEG’s objectives and Nigeria’s investment opportunities. Day Two will centre on deal-making, with a structured deal room where business owners can engage directly with investors.
The deal room will feature sector-specific tables, allowing enterprises with properly prepared proposals to pitch. Lawyers and policymakers will be present to provide legal, regulatory, and policy clarity during negotiations.
Following the summit, WIEG plans to implement a Deal-Tracking framework to monitor outcomes. This process will track how many deals are initiated, assess progress between participating parties, identify challenges and support resolution where necessary. To strengthen this process, WIEG has secured institutional support from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).
Essien emphasised that the summit places no financial burden on the government, as it is entirely funded and driven by the private sector through WIEG. Government participation, he noted, will be executive and advisory, with discretion over representation and branding.
He added that the summit aligns with key national and regional priorities, including job creation, business expansion, boosting women-owned enterprises, restoring investor confidence, and translating policy into tangible market outcomes.
“The WIEG Investment Summit is about creating a clear, structured pathway from policy to capital to enterprise growth”, Essien said.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
