President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, January 13, led Nigeria’s high-level delegation at the official opening of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Tinubu arrived in Abu Dhabi late on Sunday, January 11, at Zayed International Airport’s presidential wing, where he was received by UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE ambassador to Nigeria Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and other officials.
At his hotel, he was welcomed by members of the Nigerian delegation, including minister of budget and economic planning Atiku Bagudu, minister of industry, trade, and investment, Jumoke Oduwole, and director-general of the Nigerian Investment Authority (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed.
The summit, held under the patronage of UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, runs from January 11 to January 15, under the theme, ‘The nexus of next: All systems go.’
It features discussions on climate action, energy transition, clean energy investment, innovation, finance, and inclusive growth.
The opening ceremony included a keynote address by UAE minister Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and the presentation of the Zayed sustainability prize awards.
President Tinubu’s participation is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s role in sustainable development, attracting green energy investments, and deepening bilateral relations with the UAE.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria and the UAE are expected to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), formalizing trade and investment relations between the two nations.
The agreement, to be concluded during Tinubu’s meeting with the UAE president, will provide stronger guarantees for businesses and encourage fresh capital inflows.
The UAE is already one of Nigeria’s key commercial partners, with trade in non-oil goods reaching $4.3 billion in 2024.
Officials say the new agreement could unlock investments exceeding $10 billion, particularly in energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructure.
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