Stating the Case for Investment in Nigeria, October 2009

The Vice President of Nigeria,Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led a very successful Nigerian business delegation for a series of investment meetings on October 15, 2009 hosted by His Excellency the Ambassador to Nigeria for the UAE, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda.

Dr Jonathan addressed a global business forum of businessmen largely from the Emirates on investment opportunities in Nigeria particularly in the oil and gas sectors.Also addressing the forum were the Governors of Kano and Zamfara as well as a senior delegation from Niger State, the Ministers of Power, Mines and Steel Development, Commerce and Industry, Finance, Agriculture and Water Resources, Energy, the Deputy Central Bank Governor as well as other prominent Nigerian captains of industry.

The investment forum was organised by Developing Markets Associates, a global investment bodies coordinated by Atam Sandhu to promote foreign direct investments in Nigeria.

PROGRAMME
8.45 am – 9:15 am
Registration and refreshments

9.15 am – 11.15 am
Welcome Address: HE Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE
Session 1: Setting the Scene: Investing in Nigeria KeynoteAddress: HE Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Systemic barriers to investment, including a range ofbureaucratic and transparency issues, preconceptions about the
country and a lack of clear and independent information have stymied investment into Nigeria in previous years. The Government of Nigeria is now committed to an open and transparent system of accountability, clear investment incentives and to becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.This session will highlight the Government’s pro-active investment agenda and will include a contemporary portrait ofthe country’s investment climate. Representations by a multinational investor and a local company with a regional footprint reinforce that those with investments at work are already seeing the many benefits of investing in Nigeria.
Chair: Chairman, Mubadala
• Hon Mansur Muhtar, Minister of Finance, FederalGovernment of Nigeria
• Mustafa Bello, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)
• Lamido Sanusi,Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
• MaartenWetselaar, ExecutiveVice President, Shell Oil
• Hakeem Belo-Osagie,Chairman, Etisalat Nigeria
• BAT representative
Question & Answer session

11.15 am – 11.45 am
Tea and coffee networking break

11.45 am – 1.15 pm
Session 2: Investment Opportunities in Key Sectors Underscoring the Government’s commitment into creating an enabling environment for sustainable investment is the administration’s goal of improving a distressed public works programme underserved by a history of poor investment and lack of joined-up programming. Recently, a massive improvement in cellular communications, a programme of
investment into power generation, transmission and distribution, roads, bridges, housing and public buildings and more transparent public tendering processes reflect the administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure in Africa’s most populous country.
Chair: HE Khalifa M Al Kindi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Investment Company
• Hon Dr Lanre Babalola,Minister of Power,Government of Nigeria
• Hon Dr Rilwanu Lukman, Minister for Energy, Government of Nigeria
• Hon Dr SayyadiAbba Ruma,Minister ofAgriculture and Water Resources,Government of Nigeria
• Hon Diezani Allison Madueke, Minister of Mines and Steel Development,Government of Nigeria
• Ernest Shonekan, Chairman, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC),Nigeria
• HE SultanAhmed bin Sulayem,Chairman, DubaiWorld (tbc)
Question & Answer session

1.15 pm – 2:15 pm
Networking lunch

2.15 pm – 4.15 pm
Session 3: Direct Investment in Nigerian States Several Nigerian States will highlight their well performing financial markets and key infrastructure needs, presented by the individual state Governor. The timing has never been better to invest into Nigeria’s best performing States. A few presenting States have been outlined below.
Chair: Hon Achike Udenwa, Minister for Commerce and Industry
• HE Olusegun Mimiko,Governor Ondo State
• HE Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Governor, Kano State
• HE Mahmud Shinkafi, Governor, Zamfara State
• HE Mu'azu BabangidaAliyu,Governor,Niger State
Question & Answer session
Vote of thanks: HE Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE