BUSINESS
Flawed Process, Flopped Accreditation Hit Delta Multi-million Naira investment Summit
..Delta unveil ₦133 Billion investment fund
Accreditation of registered participants at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 flopped woefully as many participants who registered online were stranded and unable to get access tag to enter the venue of the summit.
At the cenotaph, venue designated for accreditation of participants, many became frustrated as their name only appeared on computer system as ‘approved’ without any accreditation tag provided for access.
There were shortage of tags for registered participants except those prepared for dignitaries.
Some participants who registered reportedly a week ago had their names on system as pending approval thus becoming disappointed after leaving their various destinations with the hope of attending the much-publicised summit.
It was lesrnt that the event was dominated with the presence of government special guest of honours, top government functionaries, captain of industries, foreign investors who were specially invited and ferried into the venue in SUVs and buses.
Those who registered for the summit through the online portal had a hectic time trying to accredite themselves and organisation to access the event.
“I came all the way from Lagos after I got an email that my registration has been approved but on getting to the accreditation ground where we were told to pick up our tags, we were left stranded. When they input my name on the system, it read approved but I was told no tag and you must have that tag to proceed to the event.
“So I and my team came all the way from Lagos to be stranded here because of a tag? . Don’t forget we had lodged in the hotel and paid for three nights. It is a shame how we organize event here”, one of the participants who gave his name as Mr. Ola said.
Another frustrated participants said that they were told to report at the accreditation stand by 7:am on Tuesday as the officials designated for the accreditation seems to be overwhelmed with the number of people who registered to participate.
“No viewing television sets were provided at the accreditation center to have a feel of what is going on inside. It was poorly organized”, one of the participants said.
Journalists and institutions from the state were also denied access to the event as the process of accreditation was flawed.
At the event however, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori unveiled a $100 million (approximately ₦133 billion) Viability Gap Fund aimed at de-risking strategic investments an accelerating economic growth, declaring Delta State open for business as his administration intensifies efforts to position the state as Nigeria’s premier investment destination.
Speaking at the summit themed “Harnessing Our Strengths, Unlocking Our Potentials,” Oborevwori described the fund as a landmark initiative designed to give investors greater confidence by reducing investment risks and ensuring that commitments made during the summit translate into bankable projects, industrial expansion, and job creation.
“I am pleased to announce that the Delta State Government has set aside $100 million, approximately ₦133 billion, as a Viability Gap Fund to de-risk new investments in the state. This is a practical demonstration of our total commitment to ensuring that the agreements reached at this summit translate into real projects and measurable economic impact,” the governor said.
The governor also assured local and international investors of the state’s sound financial health, emphasizing that despite executing massive infrastructure projects across Delta, his administration has not borrowed from commercial banks.
“We have not borrowed a kobo from any bank, and we have no intention of doing so. This underscores our commitment to fiscal discipline, prudent financial management, transparency, and accountability,” he stated.
Oborevwori said the state’s fiscal discipline, transparent governance, and predictable policies have created a stable investment climate capable of delivering long-term returns for businesses.
To further improve the ease of doing business, he disclosed that the Delta State Government has established the Delta State Ease of Doing Business Council, chaired by the governor, and introduced incentives including waivers on selected tenement rates, levies, fees, and other statutory charges for up to five years after businesses commence operations.
The governor highlighted Delta’s competitive advantages across agriculture, energy, manufacturing, logistics, and the marine economy, describing the state as one of Nigeria’s most promising investment destinations.