CHRISTIAN ABURIME
“To have traffic at Onitsha on a Monday, the Monday sit-at-home is over.”
With this triumphant declaration, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, set an energetic tone at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026, with the theme “Harnessing Our Strengths, Unlocking Our Potentials”.
Addressing leaders, investors, and policymakers, Governor Soludo used his arrival—delayed by 15 minutes due to heavy Monday traffic in Onitsha—to signal a decisive end to the era of enforced work-free Mondays in the region, turning a routine travel delay into a powerful symbol of economic revival and security.
Appearing in solidarity with the Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor Soludo emphasized that Delta and Anambra share a dynamic bond akin to “New York and New Jersey.”
Outlining plans for deeper cross-border integration, he revealed ongoing efforts to build an economic free trade zone powered by an aerotropolis in Anambra, stressing that sub-nationals must synergize rather than work in isolation.
Demonstrating a commitment to local enterprise, Soludo proudly noted his attire: “I am wearing Akwete. My daughter introduced me to it in 2019, and I have made it my daily uniform.” He pointed out that if every Nigerian is committed to consuming locally made goods, it could instantly generate more than ten million jobs. Highlighting his administration’s fiscal discipline, Governor Soludo added that Anambra has not borrowed a single dime since he assumed office, and even successfully opted out of a World Bank loan to protect the state from volatile exchange rate shifts.
Governor Soludo reinforced these optimistic macro insights, noting that Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have rebounded significantly from USD 3 billion in 2023 to gross reserves of about USD 52 billion, with net reserves topping USD 40 billion.
Concluding his address, Soludo called for actionable outcomes beyond the summit. “Let’s keep it simple. Let’s make investments a habit and not an event,” he urged, advocating for a consolidated national marshal plan to translate macroeconomic gains into tangible job creation and poverty reduction.
The summit, which drew heavyweight economic minds, also focused heavily on Nigeria’s broader financial trajectory.
The Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, noted that the Federal Government has laid a solid foundation for macroeconomic development, leaving sub-nationals with the mandate to key in and drive localized growth.
Director General of World Trade Organization, WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, delivering a global perspective, championed economic diversification and digital connectivity to harness the potential of Africa’s tech-savvy youth population, declaring herself a “Nigeria optimist” while highlighting vital windows of opportunity.
Prof. Patrick Lulumba, urged Africans to view themselves as primary investors to fuel the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), warning against a fragmented continental economy and underscoring energy as a critical catalyst for industrial growth.
Earlier, the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori described the state as ripe for potential investment opportunities.