The Delta State Chairman of the Integrity Group, Dr Bolum Martin Nwachukwu, has praised Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for what he described as the successful organisation of the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit in Asaba.
Bolum said the strong participation of investors at the three-day summit demonstrated growing confidence in Delta State as an emerging destination for business and investment. The summit, held from August 3 to 5 at the Dome Event Centre in Asaba, brought together government officials, business leaders, investors and other stakeholders to examine opportunities across key sectors of the state’s economy.
He said the calibre of investors who attended the summit and subsequently visited the state’s economic zones was evidence that the Oborevwori administration was creating a more conducive environment for private-sector investment. According to him, the level of interest shown by investors should be regarded as an important indication that the government’s economic policies were beginning to translate into practical opportunities.
Bolum particularly commended the administration for its focus on industrialisation and the development of the Delta Special Economic Zone (DSEZ), Koko Trade Zone and Kwale Trade Zone. The official Invest Delta programme identifies the DSEZ, Koko Trade Zone and Kwale Trade Zone among the state’s priority investment opportunities, while the DSEZ Management Company says the Koko and Kwale free trade zones cover about 3,200 hectares.
He said the increasing presence of businesses and investors in the zones suggested that the government’s commitment to economic diversification was beginning to produce visible results.
“Investors are no longer merely hearing about the opportunities in Delta State; they are coming to see the facilities and assess the prospects for themselves,” Bolum said. He added that the emergence of companies and industrial projects in the zones could create employment, stimulate local supply chains and broaden the state’s economic base.
The Integrity Group chairman also commended the governor for using the investment summit to showcase Delta’s opportunities beyond the traditional oil and gas sector. The official summit programme highlighted sectors including agriculture and agro-processing, solid minerals and mining, energy, the blue economy, transport infrastructure and the digital economy.
Bolum said the summit should not be viewed simply as a conference but as part of a broader strategy to attract domestic and international capital, strengthen investor confidence and encourage sustainable economic growth.
The Delta Special Economic Zone has already attracted significant investment interest. The zone’s management company says more than 3,000 hectares have been designated across the Koko and Kwale areas, while the state government has identified industrialisation and improved ease of doing business as priorities under the Oborevwori administration.
Bolum urged the state government to sustain the momentum generated by the summit by providing reliable infrastructure, ensuring regulatory consistency and maintaining an environment in which investors can operate with confidence.
He said continued engagement with investors would be essential if the interest generated by the summit was to translate into long-term investment, employment and broader economic prosperity for the people of Delta State.