For millions of Nigerians entering the workforce or trying to build businesses, the amount of investment flowing into productive sectors can have a direct bearing on the opportunities available to them.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) says Nigeria’s current level of investment remains below what is required to create enough jobs, improve productivity and deliver broad-based prosperity for the country’s rapidly growing population.

The warning comes as policymakers, businesses and other stakeholders prepare for the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, where investment, employment and human capital will be major areas of discussion.

The NESG, a private-sector-led policy advocacy organisation, raised the concern in a statement issued ahead of its 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, scheduled for October 26 and 27, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

The summit is themed “Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity.”

According to the NESG, Nigeria faces persistent barriers that have limited productive investment, including infrastructure deficits, limited access to long-term finance, regulatory uncertainty and high business costs.

The organisation said recent economic reforms intended to stabilise the economy, improve fiscal sustainability and restore investor confidence were necessary, but argued that stability must ultimately be followed by increased productive investment.

“Economic transformation does not happen by chance. It is built on investment — investment in businesses, industries, infrastructure, innovation, and most importantly, people,” the NESG stated.

It added that the challenge was becoming more important as countries compete globally for investment capital.
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Investment is closely connected to the ability of businesses to expand their operations, purchase equipment, develop new products and employ workers.

For small and medium-sized businesses, access to finance is particularly important. The NESG identified Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as a critical part of the investment drive and called for better access to finance, reduced regulatory burdens and greater business formalisation.

The organisation said stronger businesses could contribute to employment and income generation, while a more productive workforce could help businesses expand further.

This makes the investment question relevant not only to large companies and investors, but also to people seeking employment and entrepreneurs trying to grow their businesses.

The NESG also placed human capital at the centre of the discussion.

Nigeria has a young population, but the organisation said significant gaps remain in education, healthcare, workforce readiness and skills development.

It called for greater investment in education, healthcare, digital literacy, vocational training and workforce development.

The group also said skills development needs to be better aligned with labour-market demand so that young Nigerians can acquire capabilities relevant to a changing economy.

Its position is that investment in people and investment in businesses are connected: expanding industries can create employment and income, while a healthier and better-skilled workforce can improve productivity, innovation and competitiveness.

The investment discussion extends across several parts of the Nigerian economy.

Under its “Invest Nigeria” focus, the 2026 summit is expected to examine ways of attracting domestic and foreign investment into agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, energy, mining, logistics and the creative economy.

These sectors have different investment requirements, but they share an important connection to productive capacity.

For businesses, infrastructure and financing conditions can influence operating costs and expansion decisions. For workers, business expansion can determine whether additional employment opportunities are created. For young people entering the labour market, the availability of relevant education and skills can influence their ability to participate in those opportunities.

The NESG therefore argues that attracting capital should not be the only objective. It wants investment directed toward sectors capable of generating wider economic value, strengthening productivity and creating opportunities.

The issue goes beyond investment figures.

When businesses have difficulty obtaining long-term financing or face high operating costs, their ability to expand can be constrained. When infrastructure is inadequate, businesses may face additional costs. When skills development does not match labour-market requirements, employers and job seekers can face a mismatch.
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The NESG's argument is that addressing these issues together could help Nigeria translate economic reforms into greater productive activity.

For households, workers and entrepreneurs, the significance lies in whether economic growth produces more opportunities and higher incomes rather than remaining largely a macroeconomic measure.

The 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit will take place on October 26 and 27, 2026, in Abuja.

The summit is expected to bring together representatives from government, business, finance, academia and development institutions.

Discussions will include infrastructure financing, access to credit, public-private partnerships, industrialisation, competitive value chains, human capital development and investment in sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, technology, energy and mining.

The NESG has called on government to strengthen the policy environment, the private sector to increase productive investment and innovation, development partners to support catalytic financing and capacity building, and educational institutions to better prepare Nigerians for changing labour-market requirements.

The NESG's message is that economic stability is only part of the challenge. The next question is whether investment can reach businesses, infrastructure and people at a scale capable of expanding productive activity and creating opportunities for Nigeria's growing workforce.