TheCable

The Nigeria Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) says it will host a two-day conference on boosting the country’s blue and green economies.

NDFF is a platform that provides briefings to international investors, the global policy community, and Nigerians in the diaspora. 

This will be the first time the conference would hold in Nigeria. Five previous editions have been hosted in London, Washington DC, and New York.

The event is slated to take place at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, from May 8 to 9, with the theme: ‘The Road to Economic and Social Welfare Transformation’.

In a statement on Wednesday, Jide Akintunde, CEO of Financial Nigeria International and director of NDFF, said the aim of the conference is to provide strong backing for a transformative reform agenda for Nigeria.

Akintunde said the worldwide blue economy — oceans, seas, and coasts — is valued at around $1.5 trillion annually, and is set to double by 2030 to $3 trillion.

“The overarching aim of the conference is to provide a strong backing for a holistic and transformative reform agenda for the Nigerian economy to foster sustainable economic progress in the country,” Akintunde said.

“Besides addressing broader issues of fiscal policy for job creation, revitalising industries and markets, and health and social welfare, we will host two industry-focused sessions on the blue and green economies.

“Among the recent impetuses for higher growth prospects of the Nigerian blue economy is the creation of the federal ministry of marine and blue economy and the extension of the Nigerian seaward continental boundaries from 200 to 220 nautical miles by the United Nations’ commission on the limits of the continental shelf.

“The Nigerian blue economy still requires more policy support, market frameworks, and investments to deliver on the prospects of the sector.

“The conference will, therefore, bring stakeholders together to address the challenges and provide insights for harnessing the growth opportunities in the sector.”

He said the event would also unlock Nigeria’s sustainable investment opportunities valued at $100 billion annually.

The NDFF director said two state governments will showcase the reform agenda and investment opportunities in their respective states during the event.

“The focus of green growth strategies is ensuring that natural assets can deliver their full economic potentials on a sustainable basis,” he added.

“Given the opportunities in tech, agriculture, manufacturing, power, and transportation, etc., Nigeria’s sustainable investment opportunities has been valued at $100 billion annually.

“Our high-level panel of experts will discuss how to unlock the investment potentials.”