ASABA, DELTA STATE — The Chairman, Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chiedu Ebie, has described the Delta Economic and Investment Summit held in Asaba as a landmark event that reflects Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s vision of building a resilient, diversified and investment-driven economy for Delta State.
The three-day summit, themed “Harnessing Our Strengths, Unlocking Our Potentials,” drew an impressive gathering of national and global leaders.
In attendance were the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, who declared the summit open on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who delivered the keynote address.
Also present were renowned Pan-African scholar Prof. Patrick Lumumba, captains of industry, development partners, traditional rulers, and international investors from Brazil and China.
Ebie said the presence of such high-profile personalities underscores the importance of the summit and the confidence investors and development institutions have in Delta State under the MORE Agenda.
He noted that the summit provides a clear roadmap for attracting private sector investments, creating sustainable jobs, accelerating industrialisation, strengthening agriculture, and empowering small and medium-scale enterprises across Delta and the wider Niger Delta region.
Commending the Governor, the NDDC Chairman praised the decision to align the state’s MORE Agenda with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda, describing it as evidence of purposeful leadership focused on long-term planning and measurable results. According to him, the alignment shows that the Oborevwori administration is intentional about poverty reduction, healthcare, education, decent work, and inclusive growth, and positions Delta as a competitive destination for both local and foreign investors.
Ebie further stated that the summit sends a strong signal that Delta is open for business and ready to provide the enabling environment for enterprises to thrive.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NDDC Governing Board to collaborate with the Delta State Government to translate the resolutions of the summit into concrete projects in infrastructure, youth empowerment, skills development, and rural transformation.
He stressed that synergy between federal agencies and the state is critical to delivering prosperity to the people of the Niger Delta.
The summit focused on critical sectors including industrialisation, agriculture and agribusiness, the Delta Special Economic Zone, manufacturing, energy, solid minerals, the blue economy, transport and logistics, tourism, digital innovation, and infrastructure development. Managing Directors and CEOs of Zenith Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, NEXIM Bank, Premium Trust Bank and Globus Bank also participated in high-level sessions on project financing and public-private partnerships.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Hon. Fred Ofume, Special Assistant to the Senate President and the national secretary DUG described the arrival of Vice President Shettima, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and Prof. Lumumba as a significant endorsement of Governor Oborevwori’s economic transformation agenda. He expressed confidence that the summit would yield concrete investment commitments to expand the state’s economy, create sustainable jobs, and further position Delta as one of Nigeria’s foremost destinations for domestic and foreign direct investment.
Emmanuel Ojemeh
