Delta State will host its Economic and Investment Summit 2026 from August 3rd to 5th, 2026 with investors from Brazil, China, and across Nigeria expected to attend, the state government has announced.
Briefing journalists in Asaba on Thursday, Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the summit marks a new phase for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration following years of investment in roads, education, healthcare, and security. He said the government now believes “the time has come to attract investors who can take advantage of these opportunities.”
Aniagwu linked growing investor interest to a trade roadshow the state undertook in Brazil last September, saying the outreach was already yielding results. Investors from Brazil and China are set to join local business leaders at the summit, with the state working alongside the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises to ensure its success.
The commissioner said corporate backing for the summit had far exceeded expectations. Delta State had hoped for one Diamond Sponsor but secured five, while a single expected Gold Sponsor grew to three, alongside seven Silver Sponsors. He described the support, running into hundreds of millions of naira, as proof of confidence in the administration’s leadership.
According to Aniagwu, the summit will spotlight several key sectors of the state’s economy, including the Blue Economy, anchored on Delta’s over 160 kilometres of Atlantic coastline, and Oil and Gas, building on the state’s longstanding role in Nigeria’s energy industry. Agriculture will also feature prominently, covering crop production, agro-processing, and value-chain development, alongside Livestock Production, an area drawing strong interest from Brazilian investors. Other sectors to be showcased include Real Estate and Housing Development, Hospitality and Tourism, the Creative Economy, and ICT.
High-profile guests are expected to headline the event, including the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; as keynote speaker, a renowned Pan-African scholar, Prof. Patrick Lumumba; delivering a special address, and Nigeria’s Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima; who will formally declare the summit open.
Aniagwu also used the briefing to address a video circulating on social media showing an attack on Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple, a Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Protocol. He said the incident stemmed from a personal disagreement and had nothing to do with political violence, dismissing claims by “opposition elements” attempting to link it to support for President Bola Tinubu as false. He said the Governor has directed security agencies to fully investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible face justice, stressing that the government has zero tolerance for violence or disorderly conduct.
The government said its focus in the coming days remains on delivering a successful summit, one it hopes will open “a new chapter of economic growth and prosperity for Delta State.”
