SPECIAL EVENT: UNGA 2018

Zenith Bank, one of Africa's leading financial institutions is convening the Zenith Global Economic Forum with the theme "Nigeria Open for Business" on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. With about 200 million people and perhaps the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria is open for business.

Economic Prospects

• Fueled by higher oil prices and improved liquidity, the Nigerian economy has witnessed a remarkable turnaround, with the promise of steady growth and boom on the horizon.

• Government action through the Central Bank, has seen the stabilization of the exchange rate and promising outlook in the agricultural sector.

• While the recovery in oil prices and production has helped in galvanizing the growth being witnessed, it is the role of the financial sector to help catalyze the growth process by providing a level of confidence, especially in the non-oil sector of the economy.

Participants

• About 100 institutions, including foreign direct investors and domestic investors, as well as international business leaders expected.

Objectives

• To create an avenue for participants to articulate various ways of unlocking the business opportunities in Nigeria.
• To kick-start the dialogue on how financial institutions in Nigeria can be more involved in the developmental transformation of the country through strategic partnerships with players in the various sectors.

Areas of Focus

• The Forum will look at key options and business strategies as they relate to opportunities in several sectors in the real economy like:

Speakers and Panelists

• Special Guest of Honour

President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR - President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Invited)

Keynote Speakers

• Kemi Adeosun – Minister of Finance (Invited)
• Godwin Emefiele – Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Confirmed)
• Dr. Okechukwu E. Enelamah, CFA – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Confirmed)
• Benaoyagha B. M. Okoyen – Consul General of Nigeria to New York (Invited)
• Professor Tijjani Bande – Nigeria's Ambassador to the United Nations (Invited)
• Aliko Dangote – President/CEO Dangote Group (Confirmed)
• Dr. Evans Woherem – Chairman, Digital Africa (Confirmed)
• Nduka Obaigbena – Chairman/CEO and Editor-in-Chief, This Day Newspaper (Confirmed)
• James Gordon Brown, FRSE – Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (Invited)
• Florizelle Liser – President, Corporate Council on Africa (Confirmed)
• Ambassador (retired) Terence P. McCulley - Chairman, US-Nigeria Council (Confirmed)
• Eliot D. Pence - Executive Director, US-Nigeria Council (Invited)
• Patricia Harris – CEO, Bloomberg Philanthropies (Invited)
• Christina Sass – COO of Andela (Invited)
• Yewande Sadiku - Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) (to be confirmed)

Panelists

• John George Coumantaros – Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc. (Confirmed)
• Peter Amangbo – Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc. (Confirmed)
• Wale Tinubu – Chief Executive of Oando (Confirmed)
• Adaora Umeoji – Deputy Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc. (Confirmed)
• Ambassador (Retired) Terence P. McCulley, Chairman, US-Nigeria Council (Confirmed)
• Scot Eisner, President US-Africa Business Center, and Senior VP, US Chamber of Commerce (TBA)
• Barbara Iyayi, Managing Director, Unicorn Africa Investments and Venture Partner, Lateral Capital (Confirmed)

Registration is now closed.