Nigeria, Sept. 14 -- When I wrote in April about "Beyond oil: Niger Delta attracts investments for economic growth and development," the central argument was straightforward: Niger Delta must begin to look beyond crude oil and deliberately position itself as a diversified investment destination.

At the time, the Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit (NDEIS) was scheduled for May. The summit, with the theme, "Driving investment, innovation, and industrial growth in the Niger Delta," was subsequently postponed, but the additional preparation time has arguably made the event even more significant.

From 15-17 September, 2026, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will host what promises to be a defining conversation about the economic future of...