The Nigerian Economic Summit Group has said Nigeria’s current level of investment is insufficient to create the jobs, improve productivity and deliver the broad-based prosperity required by its growing population.
The private sector-led policy advocacy group made the submission in a statement issued ahead of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, scheduled for October 26 and 27, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The NESG said economic transformation depended on investment in businesses, industries, infrastructure, innovation and human capital, but noted that investment levels remained below what was required to generate sufficient employment and productivity gains.
It identified infrastructure deficits, limited access to long-term financing, regulatory uncertainty and high business costs as some of the factors that have constrained productive investment in the country.
According to the group, recent economic reforms aimed at stabilising the macroeconomic environment, improving fiscal sustainability and restoring investor confidence were necessary but needed to be followed by increased productive investment.
“While these reforms are necessary, they represent only the first step. The next challenge is translating stability into productive investment that expands businesses, creates jobs, raises incomes, and improves living standards,” the NESG said.
The 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, themed “Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity,” will focus on mobilising capital for economic expansion and investing in the people required to sustain growth.
Under the “Invest Nigeria” sub-theme, discussions will examine ways to attract domestic and foreign investment into agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, energy, mining, logistics and the creative economy.
The NESG also called for improvements in the business environment, deeper capital markets, stronger policy frameworks, improved access to finance and increased public-private partnerships to support long-term investment.
It stressed that investment should not only be about attracting capital but ensuring that funds flow into sectors capable of generating employment, strengthening productivity and creating opportunities for Nigerians.
The group also highlighted the need for greater investment in education, healthcare, digital literacy, vocational training and workforce development, saying skills development must be better aligned with labour-market demands.