Nigeria has made a historic debut at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. On Monday, January 19, 2026, Vice President Kashim Shettima officially inaugurated the “Nigeria House,” the country’s first-ever sovereign pavilion on the prestigious Davos Promenade.
The initiative marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s economic diplomacy, moving from being a mere observer to an active participant with a dedicated “nerve center” to engage global CEOs and heads of state.
1. The “Nigeria House” Mandate
Located at the heart of the Davos action, the pavilion is designed to centralize Nigeria’s investment narrative.
- Investment Playbooks: The government launched four strategic “playbooks” targeting:
- Solid Minerals: Leveraging Nigeria’s vast untapped lithium and gold deposits.
- Sustainable Agriculture: A ₦2.3 trillion opportunity focused on value-added agro-processing.
- Creative Economy: Capitalizing on the global “Afrobeats” and “Nollywood” boom.
- Digital Economy: Showcasing the $617 million iDICE program for tech startups.
- Public-Private Partnership: The House is a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and private sector lead partners like Eviola & Co.
2. VP Shettima’s Key Pitch
During the opening ceremony, Vice President Shettima emphasized that the “difficult but inevitable” reforms of the Tinubu administration are finally paying off.
- Economic Growth: He revealed that the Nigerian economy expanded by 3.9% in 2025, the fastest pace in over a decade.
- Non-Oil Dominance: Non-oil sectors now account for 96% of Nigeria’s GDP, with non-oil revenues making up nearly 75% of government collections.
- Financial Stability: He cited foreign reserves climbing above $45 billion and a significant easing of inflation compared to late 2024.
3. Defending the “Security Narrative”
In a high-profile interview on CNN, Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Yusuf Tuggar addressed investor concerns regarding security.
- “Isolated Incidents”: Tuggar urged the world to view security challenges as “isolated” and “localized” rather than a nationwide crisis.
- US Coordination: He confirmed that recent counter-terrorism operations, including strategic airstrikes, have been the result of high-level intelligence sharing with the Trump administration.
- Investor Assurance: Tuggar stressed that the government has implemented “investment security frameworks” to protect foreign assets even in volatile regions.
