Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria – June 13, 2026: The 9th CEOs National Roundtable Discussion, NRD 2026, opened in Apapa with a call for Nigeria to prioritize indigenous investment and protect private enterprise as a cornerstone of national development and innovation.
Chairperson of the occasion, Bola Idayat Muse, MD/CEO of Bomarah Investment Ltd., who declared the roundtable open, stressed that Nigeria’s maritime sector has long been sustained by indigenous companies despite facing unpredictable policies, port delays, and compliance bottlenecks. She urged government to treat private enterprise as a partner in development.
Muse emphasized that sustaining indigenous investment requires stable and transparent rules, faster port operations, and predictable processes. “Nigeria develops when indigenous investors are allowed to work, grow, and compete,” she said, charging participants to move beyond speeches to data-driven recommendations.
Convener of the roundtable and Founder of NEGF-Initiatives Concepts, Adisa Y. Olamilekan, in his opening address, noted that while foreign direct investment remains important, no nation achieves sustainable transformation without nurturing its own entrepreneurs. He described indigenous investment as confidence in the economy and commitment to communities.
Olamilekan highlighted three urgent realities: economic resilience, job creation, and innovation. He explained that indigenous investors remain committed during crises, SMEs provide the majority of jobs, and local innovators are best positioned to solve Nigeria’s unique challenges.
He stressed that the roundtable must generate actionable commitments, including frameworks to protect businesses from policy inconsistencies, unfair competition, and regulatory uncertainty. He also called for innovative financing through pension funds, capital markets, and development finance institutions to support indigenous enterprises.
Delivering the keynote address, Otunba Abdulazeez Babatunde Mikhail, CEO of Mickey Excellency Nigeria Limited, said sustaining indigenous investment is central to economic growth and national prosperity. He argued that Nigerian-owned businesses must be empowered to grow and compete sustainably.
Mikhail recalled Nigeria’s Indigenization Policy of the 1970s, which sought to increase local ownership and reduce foreign dominance. While acknowledging its limitations, he said its core message remains relevant: citizens must not be spectators in their own economy.
He warned that foreign companies are increasingly dominating sectors traditionally reserved for local operators, citing logistics and freight forwarding where international firms now control cargo consolidation, warehousing, e-commerce fulfillment, and customs-related services.
While welcoming foreign investment, Mikhail cautioned that indigenous businesses must not be pushed to the margins. “Every successful indigenous business contributes directly to national development. When Nigerians invest in Nigeria, wealth circulates within the economy, jobs are created, and communities benefit,” he said.
Stakeholders at the roundtable agreed that Nigeria’s economic future depends on creating a predictable, supportive environment for local investors. They stressed that indigenous enterprises are the backbone of resilience, innovation, and competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy.
The roundtable concluded with a commitment to produce practical recommendations that will guide government policy, strengthen private enterprise, and ensure Nigeria’s development strategy is firmly anchored on indigenous investment.
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