By Julius Peter
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, has said Nigeria’s economic agenda is entering a new phase in which the focus must shift from implementing reforms to delivering sustainable returns for investors and improving the living standards of Nigerians.
Oyedele stated this while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Investor Day of the Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria (AACN) in London, held under the theme, “Nigeria’s Next Chapter: From Reform to Returns.”
The minister said the Federal Government’s economic reforms were designed not merely to stabilise the economy, but to create the conditions for increased investment, higher productivity, greater production, job creation and rising incomes.
According to him, the success of the reform programme should ultimately be measured by its ability to translate improved economic fundamentals into tangible opportunities for businesses, investors and citizens.
He explained that Nigeria’s economic conversation was gradually moving beyond the question of whether reforms were necessary to the more important issue of how the country could convert those reforms into sustainable economic returns.
Oyedele highlighted a number of developments in the Nigerian economy, including improving macroeconomic fundamentals, a deepening capital market, the redesign of the nation’s tax system and efforts to establish a more transparent and efficient foreign-exchange market.
He maintained that these developments were critical to rebuilding investor confidence and positioning Nigeria as a more competitive destination for domestic and international capital.
The minister stressed that the government was committed to mobilising private capital to support productive economic activities, noting that sustainable economic growth could not be achieved by government spending alone.
He said creating an environment where private investors could deploy capital, generate competitive returns and contribute to economic development remained a major priority of the administration.
Oyedele also underscored the importance of strong institutions and a predictable policy environment in attracting and retaining long-term investment.
He said the government was working towards strengthening institutions and improving the overall business and investment climate so that investors could make decisions based on clearer economic signals and greater confidence in the Nigerian market.
The minister’s presentation was particularly targeted at the international investment community, as he urged investors to reassess Nigeria based on the country’s current economic fundamentals rather than perceptions inherited from previous years.
He argued that Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape presented opportunities that should be examined through current data and developments, rather than through outdated assumptions about the country’s economy.
Oyedele said the reforms being implemented by the Federal Government were intended to lay the foundation for an economy capable of attracting investment, expanding productive capacity and creating sustainable wealth.
He emphasised that increased investment would be critical to expanding production and productivity, which in turn would create more employment opportunities, increase household incomes and improve living standards.
The AACN Investor Day provided a platform for discussions between Nigerian economic policymakers and international investors on the country’s economic outlook, investment opportunities and ongoing reforms.
The event also highlighted the growing importance of Nigeria’s capital markets and the role of asset custodians and other financial-market institutions in supporting the mobilisation and efficient deployment of capital.
Oyedele’s message comes amid the Federal Government’s broader efforts to reposition the Nigerian economy, strengthen public finances and create conditions capable of supporting long-term private-sector-led growth.
He said the next phase of Nigeria’s economic journey must therefore be defined by results, with reforms serving as the foundation for increased investment and sustainable economic returns.
The minister’s remarks reinforced the government’s position that Nigeria’s economic transformation would depend on the successful interaction between sound policies, strong institutions and private investment.
For international investors, the central message from the London engagement was that Nigeria wants to be assessed on where its economy is heading and the opportunities emerging from ongoing reforms, rather than solely on challenges associated with its past.
Oyedele therefore called attention to what he described as changing fundamentals and expanding opportunities, signalling the Federal Government’s determination to move the country from a period of economic adjustment into one characterised by stronger investment, production and returns.
The minister’s presentation also underscored the administration’s expectation that the benefits of economic reforms should eventually extend beyond financial and macroeconomic indicators to businesses, workers and households across the country.
He said the ultimate objective remained an economy in which increased investment drives productive activity, creates jobs, raises incomes and delivers better living standards for Nigerians.
The 2026 AACN Investor Day consequently served as an opportunity for Nigeria to present its evolving economic story to global investors, with the Federal Government making a case for renewed confidence in the country’s investment potential.
