The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), is shifting gears from policy drafting to measurable delivery. At its 2026 Top Management Retreat in Abuja, themed “From Policy to Performance: Driving Industrial Growth, Trade Expansion and Investment Outcomes,” the ministry outlined how it intends to turn plans into jobs, exports and investor confidence, writes Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Our Managing Editor in Abuja. Excerpts.
FMITI has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s industrialization, expanding trade, and attracting strategic investments as it convened the two-day retreat in Abuja on June 22–23, 2026. This was contained in a press release from Obilor-Duru Augustina Okechi, Head Press and Public Relations, on Tuesday.
Addressing participants, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, highlighted significant achievements over the past year and emphasized the need to translate policy initiatives into measurable economic outcomes.
Dr. Oduwole noted that Nigeria recorded notable progress in 2025, including approximately $21 billion in capital importation, over $6.1 billion in non-oil exports, expanded intra-African trade, and support for more than 115,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises through grants, loans, and trade finance interventions.
She disclosed that the Ministry successfully completed Africa’s first comprehensive five-year review of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, implementation. This positions Nigeria to better leverage the continental market.
The Minister added that FMITI continued to advance export connectivity, investment facilitation, intellectual property reforms, and direct support for exporters and manufacturers during the review period.
Looking ahead, Dr. Oduwole outlined a four-pronged strategy for 2026. The focus: expand demand for Nigerian products and services, strengthen domestic industrial capacity, attract strategic investments, and leverage data, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure to improve service delivery.
She stressed that stronger coordination across the Ministry and its agencies is critical to provide more efficient support to businesses, investors, and exporters. Policy silos, she implied, must give way to integrated action.
The Minister further highlighted achievements since 2024, including an 11 percent increase in non-oil exports, over $6 billion in investment inflows, and more than $50 billion in investment announcements.
She also pointed to progress on key trade agreements and encouraging early results from the newly approved Nigeria Industrial Policy, which forms the backbone of current industrial strategy.
According to Dr. Oduwole, these efforts are critical to driving industrialization, economic diversification, job creation, and Nigeria’s long-term ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the retreat as a strategic platform for reflection, alignment, and renewed commitment to delivering tangible economic results.
Senator Owan Enoh noted substantial progress over the past two years, particularly through implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy. To strengthen accountability, he revealed the Ministry has adopted a 90-day implementation reporting cycle, with the first progress report already completed.
He emphasized that policy success depends not only on formulation but also on effective implementation supported by investment, technology, skills development, infrastructure, financing, innovation, standards, and strong stakeholder collaboration.
The Minister of State highlighted ongoing industrial development programmes, skills initiatives, quality assurance interventions, and efforts to position Nigeria for future industries such as electric mobility and advanced manufacturing.
He explained that the Industrial Policy Implementation Matrix prioritizes industrial growth, MSME development, employment and skills, financing and investment, export competitiveness, sustainability, regional trade integration, energy, infrastructure, and security.
Progress, Senator Owan said, will ultimately be measured by increased production, job creation, higher exports, reduced imports, and stronger investor confidence. The metrics are now outcome-based, not process-based.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of FMITI, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, underscored the retreat’s theme, stressing that citizens judge government performance by outcomes rather than policies.
Dr. Isokpunwu said the Ministry’s success must be reflected in industrial growth, increased investments, expanded exports, improved trade facilitation, and job creation. He called for greater accountability from all departments and agencies.
Delivering goodwill messages, UNIDO Representative Dr. Reuben Bamidele reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment through the Nigeria Country Partnership Programme. Mr Oluwafemi Ajibabi, representing the Chairman Senate Committee on Industries, pledged legislative and oversight support for industrial competitiveness and private sector participation.
With a clear focus on execution, innovation, and results, FMITI remains committed to supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The retreat signals intent to position Nigeria on a sustainable path toward economic transformation and the realization of its $1 trillion economy aspiration.
