Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has called on investors to explore opportunities beyond the oil sector, saying economic diversification is key to driving sustainable growth, creating jobs and improving living standards.
Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Oborevwori Sheriff, has been cleared by the court as the PDP governorship candidate.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called for a shift away from over-reliance on oil revenue, urging both local and foreign investors to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture, energy, transportation, the blue economy, solid minerals and digital innovation.
Speaking at the close of the second day of the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit in Asaba, the governor said the state must broaden its economic base to achieve sustainable growth, create jobs and improve living standards.
He said discussions at the summit highlighted Delta State’s vast but largely untapped potential across several non-oil sectors, including agriculture and livestock, energy, transportation, the blue economy, solid minerals, digital innovation and investment-friendly legal reforms.
“We can no longer depend on one source of revenue. We must diversify our economy by attracting strategic investments into sectors where Delta State has a clear comparative advantage. That is the pathway to creating jobs, growing businesses and improving the quality of life of our people,” Oborevwori said.
The governor explained that the summit was designed as a private sector-led initiative, with government playing the role of facilitator by connecting investors with viable opportunities capable of delivering long-term value.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a conducive business environment through investor-friendly policies, infrastructure development, improved security and stronger collaboration with the private sector.
Oborevwori also disclosed that the state had acquired suitable land and taken other strategic measures to attract investments into priority sectors. He added that investment promotion missions had already been conducted in countries including China and Brazil to market Delta’s economic opportunities.
According to him, the summit has gone beyond policy discussions to become a practical platform for linking investors with viable projects and converting investment interests into real business ventures.
He expressed confidence that the partnerships and commitments made during the summit would translate into concrete investments capable of driving industrial growth, generating employment and positioning Delta among Nigeria’s leading investment destinations.
During the technical sessions, resource persons identified agriculture, livestock development, mining, the blue economy and investment-friendly legal reforms as key sectors with strong potential to attract long-term investments.
Speaking at the agriculture, agribusiness and agro-industry panel, former South-South Vice President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Chief Eta Enahoro, urged the state government to invest more in fish and poultry production, describing both industries as major drivers of job creation and economic transformation.
He said that with the right support, many young people seeking political appointments could become successful entrepreneurs through commercial poultry and fish farming.
Brazilian agribusiness investor Roberto Fonseca announced plans to collaborate with the Delta State Government on an integrated cattle and beef value chain covering breeding, ranching, abattoirs, meat processing, cold storage, refrigerated logistics and distribution.
Fonseca said Delta’s climate and environmental conditions closely resemble those that helped Brazil become a global leader in cattle and beef production, adding that the partnership could position the state as a major livestock hub for Nigeria and neighbouring African countries.
At the session on the blue economy and transport infrastructure, Dr. Uche Igwe called on the state government to tackle illegal and unregulated fishing in order to maximise the economic potential of its waterways.
Managing Director of Mosra Energy, Ramos Olukayode, disclosed that Delta State has more than 200 million tonnes of coal deposits in Obomkpa, Ugbodu and Ukunzu, which he said exceed the reserves found in Enugu and Kogi states.
He described the deposits as a significant resource that could support industrial expansion and revealed plans to establish a 600-megawatt power plant in Obomkpa, noting that more than 200 hectares of land had already been secured for the project.
Olukayode added that the area also has substantial deposits of kaolin and clay that could support manufacturing activities within the proposed industrial cluster.
