ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Government has challenged indigenous businesses and investors to move beyond participation at the forthcoming Delta State Investment and Economic Summit by committing resources to projects capable of driving economic growth and creating jobs across the state.
The call came during an interactive session between the summit’s Main Organising Committee and members of the organised private sector in Asaba ahead of the three-day investment summit scheduled for August 3 to 5.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said while the state was positioning itself to attract foreign investors, the success of the investment drive would depend largely on the willingness of local entrepreneurs to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
He noted that indigenous investors have a greater stake in the state’s development because their businesses and livelihoods are directly tied to its economic progress.
According to Aniagwu, the summit should serve as more than a platform for speeches and policy discussions, stressing that its success would ultimately be measured by the volume of investments, partnerships and business ventures that emerge from it.
He encouraged local businesses to explore collaborative investment models by pooling financial and technical resources through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), especially in sectors such as agriculture, oil and gas, where Delta State holds significant economic potential.
The commissioner said partnerships among local entrepreneurs would make it easier to execute large-scale projects that might be beyond the capacity of individual investors.
He also urged participants to approach the summit with clear investment plans rather than limiting their involvement to presentations and panel discussions.
Aniagwu cautioned against leaving investment opportunities generated by the summit almost entirely to foreign investors, insisting that the organised private sector remains central to the state’s economic transformation agenda.
He explained that the state government was equally interested in receiving practical recommendations from business operators on improving the investment climate and removing barriers to indigenous enterprise.
According to him, sustained collaboration between government and the private sector would help unlock Delta State’s economic potential, attract long-term investments and expand employment opportunities.
Aniagwu further encouraged entrepreneurs, corporate organisations and business associations to use the summit as an opportunity to build strategic partnerships, form investment consortia and position themselves to benefit from emerging opportunities in the state’s economy.
The Delta State Investment and Economic Summit is expected to bring together government officials, local and foreign investors, development partners and business leaders to explore investment opportunities across key sectors of the state’s economy.
