By Kunle Odusola-Stevenson
The Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) stands as a beacon of distinction, a truly international convocation serving an international industry. It is not merely another conference; it is a Federal Government flagship initiative, officially endorsed at the highest level of the Federal Executive Council, and carefully designed to forge Africa’s collective response to the twin imperatives of global energy transition and sustainable development. In doing so, NIES positions Nigeria not on the periphery, but at the very heart of the global energy discourse.
Unlike privately driven or foreign-owned events, NIES transcends narrow debates and fleeting networking. It convenes Ministers of Energy, Multinational CEOs, Global Investors, and Policymakers from across continents, not simply to deliberate, but to shape policy frameworks, crystallize partnerships, and secure investments that radiate benefits beyond Nigeria to the wider African continent and indeed the global community.
Yet, in the eagerness of some critics, a vital truth is often overlooked: the tangible economic dividends NIES delivers. With thousands of international delegates arriving yearly, the summit injects millions of dollars into Nigeria’s economy, bolstering hospitality, aviation, tourism, logistics, and ancillary services. Every foreign exchange inflow, every tax receipt, every remittance arising from NIES is a testament to its stature as a national economic asset. The deals brokered at the summit cascade into investments that support diversification away from oil dependence, a contribution that purely private events cannot rival, given their limited domestic footprint.
Equally misplaced is the assertion that NIES operates in a manner that excludes Nigerians by “charging only in U.S. dollars.” The record is clear: the summit offers compliance-friendly options for payment in Naira, in full alignment with Nigerian currency regulations. This ensures that local companies and professionals are not sidelined but are instead empowered to participate meaningfully. Such flexibility demonstrates NIES’s commitment to inclusive participation, blending international standards with local realities, a balance that strengthens, not undermines, its integrity.
Beyond economics, the developmental impact of NIES reverberates through Nigeria’s burgeoning Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. The summit serves as a conduit for knowledge transfer, catalyzing technology adoption, advancing capacity-building, and branding Nigeria as Africa’s premier destination for global energy dialogue. In this way, NIES stimulates job creation, empowers SMEs, promotes cultural tourism, and anchors Nigeria within the currents of international capital and innovation, all seamlessly aligned with the Federal Government’s diversification agenda.
In sum, NIES is not an exercise in “talking local and billing global.” Rather, it is a bridge-builder, a platform of prestige, and a catalyst of progress. It symbolizes Nigeria’s energy ambitions and Africa’s determination to speak with one confident voice in the global marketplace of ideas. Its measured blend of inclusivity, compliance, and internationalism silences alarmist narratives and reaffirms its role as a vital instrument of economic transformation.
Instead of reflexive criticism, stakeholders would do well to recognize NIES for what it truly is: a nationally anchored, globally relevant platform; one that integrates Nigerian participation, amplifies Africa’s presence, and delivers undeniable dividends for the country’s energy future and broader economic renaissance.
Kunle Odusola-Steveson is the Event Producer, Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES)
