Abia State Takes Center Stage at Inaugural Sports Africa Investment Summit
LAGOS/Nigeria: Abia State emerged as a major player at the inaugural Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS), securing a landmark agreement with Sport Nigeria Ltd to develop and manage the Abia State Sports Special Economic Zone (SSEZ).
The two-day summit, which brought together key stakeholders in sports, business, and governance, featured three plenary sessions, a fire-side chat, and 18 breakout sessions focused on creating a sustainable market for sports goods and services in Africa. Discussions centered on product development, market expansion, and investment strategies to drive the continent’s sports industry forward.
Sport Nigeria’s Vice Chairman, Yahaya Maikori, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for an event geared towards fostering strategic partnerships. Nkechi Obi, CEO of Sport Nigeria Ltd, outlined the agenda, while the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, delivered the keynote address, titled “Sports as a Catalyst for Africa Towards 2063.”
A key highlight of the summit was the signing of a collaborative agreement between the Abia State Government and Sport Nigeria Ltd, marking a significant step in the development of the SSEZ. This initiative aims to position Abia as a hub for sports infrastructure and economic growth within the sector.
Another major moment was the presentation of Spaces for Sport (S4S), Sport Nigeria’s flagship community-based infrastructure project, designed to enhance grassroots sports development across the country.
Dignitaries who delivered goodwill messages included the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; Xavier Muron, Country Manager of Agence Française de Développement; and Christophe Bazivamo, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria. The summit concluded with closing remarks from Lanre Buluro, Managing Director of Investment Banking at Chapel Hill Denham, representing CEO Lanre Balogun.
With SAIS 2025 laying the groundwork for increased investment and innovation in African sports, anticipation is already building for the next edition, scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.
