The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has launched a digital platform, the NGF Investopedia, designed to attract investment and bridge the country’s significant infrastructure financing gap.
The new platform, unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja, aims to provide a transparent and credible gateway for investors seeking opportunities across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The NGF Investopedia is set to serve as a one-stop shop for both domestic and international investors interested in participating in Nigeria’s infrastructure development.
The platform is tailored to highlight credible investment opportunities and streamline engagement between investors and local governments.
Addressing the Infrastructure Funding Deficit
In a keynote address at the launch event, NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emphasized that the platform is a strategic initiative aimed at tackling Nigeria’s annual infrastructure financing gap, which is estimated at $100 billion.
“The key to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential is mobilizing both global and African capital to finance critical infrastructure projects that will generate jobs, modernize infrastructure, and promote inclusive economic growth,” Governor Abdulrazaq said.
He further elaborated that the platform was more than just an investment catalogue, stressing that it provides a clear entry point for investors, offering not only a comprehensive list of opportunities but also detailed guidance on how to confidently invest in Nigeria.
“This is not just a catalogue; it is an entry point to understanding where and how to invest in Nigeria,” Abdulrazaq added.
Key Partnerships for Growth
The platform’s success is built upon partnerships with key organizations such as Afreximbank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).
These partnerships will help drive the platform’s mission of creating a transparent investment ecosystem for Nigeria’s sub-national governments.
Governor Abdulrazaq also unveiled the NGF Fund, a new pooled investment vehicle created in collaboration with Cavista Holdings. The fund is designed to convert opportunities on the platform into real-world investments, ensuring that the capital raised is effectively directed toward viable, vetted projects across Nigeria’s states.
“The NGF Fund will anchor its work on the credibility and governance of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and will serve as a key financing arm to channel catalytic capital into sub-national projects identified on Investopedia,” said Abdulrazaq.
He called on both domestic and international investors to seize the opportunity, noting that the window for investment in Nigeria’s diverse infrastructure projects is now open.
“The opportunities are vast; our commitment is firm; the time is now to invest in Nigeria’s future,” he concluded.
A New Dawn for Investment in Nigeria
In his remarks, the NGF Director-General, Abdulateef Shittu, hailed the launch of the NGF Investopedia as a “new dawn” for Nigeria’s investment readiness at the sub-national level. Shittu acknowledged that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nigeria had been historically low compared to the African average, but he expressed optimism that the Investopedia platform would help change that narrative.
“In 2023, Nigeria attracted just $1.87 billion in FDI, a figure that lags behind the continent’s average. However, by curating a pipeline of bankable, high-impact projects across all 36 states, this platform will offer investors a clear and accessible entry point into credible opportunities,” Shittu stated.
The platform aims to simplify the investment process by consolidating a wide range of opportunities into a single, transparent gateway. Additionally, it will provide institutional oversight, due diligence, and enhanced global visibility to potential investors.
Building Confidence and Long-Term Prosperity
Shittu also highlighted that beyond facilitating financing, the platform would encourage partnerships that provide technical support, capacity-building, and risk mitigation. By offering these complementary services, NGF Investopedia aims to foster a holistic environment conducive to long-term, sustainable growth.
“This initiative is about more than just funding; it’s about creating a pathway for robust partnerships that will include technical expertise and risk management. We are no longer talking about potential, we are presenting actionable, bankable projects that will pave the way for future prosperity,” Shittu said.
He concluded by noting that the platform’s impact would be felt not only through increased investment but also in the form of improved infrastructure, job creation, and inclusive economic growth – outcomes that will serve as a lasting legacy for the current generation of Nigerian leaders.
What You Should Know
- Early this month, the NGF organised the 2025 State-Level Workshop for Foundation Learning and Out-of-School Children held in Abuja, convened against the backdrop of a deepening crisis in Nigeria’s basic education sector, where over 10 million children remain out of school, the highest figure globally, according to UNICEF.
- Discussions at the event identified the root causes as systemic: an undervalued teaching workforce, fragmented policy execution, chronic underfunding, and a misplaced emphasis on infrastructure rather than learning outcomes.
