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$500m on the Table: 20+ Malaysian Investors Head to Lagos for WIEG Summit as Nigeria Courts Asian Capital
More than 20 investors from Malaysia are set to lead a major investment drive at the two-day World Integrated Economic Growth Initiative (WIEG) Investment Summit, scheduled for February 25 and 26 in Lagos, with projected deal flows of up to $500 million.
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The summit will focus on critical sectors including SMEs, the creative economy, energy transition, and aviation, bringing together private capital, policymakers, and investment-ready enterprises in a structured, private-sector-led engagement platform.
Strong Asian Participation
Bassey Essien, Lead Consultant for the WIEG Investment Summit, confirmed strong international participation, driven largely by Malaysian investors with additional backing from other Asian countries.
“WIEG has secured commitments from about 20 top investors, mostly from Malaysia and other Asian countries, and we are targeting deals of up to $500 million. This February summit is the first in a series of investment summits. The theme is ‘Nigeria’s Next Frontier: Unlocking Sustainable Investments for Economic Transformation.'”
Given Malaysia’s long-standing trade relationship with Nigeria, the summit is designed to unlock capital for enterprises that struggle to scale due to limited access to structured financing.
Execution Over Symbolism
According to Essien, the summit architecture prioritises practical results over ceremonial engagements:
“This summit is designed to deliver practical results. We have pre-screened MSMEs, cooperatives, and SMEs across sectors, focusing on the creative industry, agriculture, finance, energy transition, and aviation.”
Spotlight on Nigeria’s Creative Economy
Nigeria’s creative sector, which currently contributes about 2.5% to GDP, is a major driver of investment interest.
*”The creative sector gives Nigeria one of its strongest global images and contributes about 2.5 per cent to GDP. Investors are keen on funding music, fashion, film, media, advertising, and especially technology-driven platforms,”* Essien said.
Energy Transition: A Core Focus
Renewable energy is also a central theme, driven by Nigeria’s persistent power supply challenges and rising production costs.
“Energy transition is a clear interest area. People are paying more for power, while renewable energy is already working in parts of the country. If this scales, production costs will fall, productivity will rise, and prices of goods will drop,” he added.
Addressing the Investment Readiness Gap
Essien identified investment readiness as a major structural bottleneck for Nigerian enterprises seeking capital.
“Across sectors, businesses consistently say they cannot access funding. The real gaps are in investment readiness, compliance, and documentation. Many enterprises are unwilling to invest in the right consultancy support to prepare feasibility studies and financial structures that meet financial standards. Institutions like the African Development Bank and top-tier Nigerian banks will not lower their requirements.”
Strategic Partnership with NIPC
The summit is being organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) , with a built-in deal-tracking framework to ensure continuity beyond the event.
“Beyond the two days, there will be structured deal tracking to monitor progress. That’s why NIPC is supporting us—to ensure engagements translate into real outcomes across sectoral roundtables.”
Deal Room: Direct Engagement
Day two of the summit is structured as a deal room, enabling direct engagement between investors, business leaders, and policymakers.
“We insisted on having investors physically present so business leaders can engage directly. Aviation, agriculture, and other sectors will have dedicated roundtables, with policymakers in the room to clarify regulatory, tax, and compliance issues.”
A Private-Sector-Led Initiative
Organisers describe the summit as non-partisan, privately driven, and strategically focused on:
- Job creation
- Women’s economic empowerment
- Enterprise growth
- Investor confidence
“The WIEG Investment Summit is about creating a structured pathway from policy to capital to enterprise growth. It places no financial burden on government and is designed to translate policy frameworks into tangible market outcomes.”
