Cardoso woos global investors, pitches Nigeria’s reform agenda

Amid heightened global economic uncertainty, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has pitched Nigeria as a disciplined and credible investment destination.

He told international investors that the country is firmly committed to rules-based economic management, transparent markets and predictable policy frameworks.

A statement from the CBN yesterday said Cardoso made the case for Nigeria on Monday, December 15, 2025, while engaging senior business leaders and institutional investors in Washington, D.C., at the U.S.–Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable, a high-level forum aimed at strengthening commercial ties and attracting long-term capital into the Nigerian economy.

Addressing the gathering, the CBN governor said Nigeria’s economic reforms are deliberately structured to restore confidence and provide investors with clarity and certainty in an increasingly volatile global environment.

He explained that the authorities are focused on creating a stable macroeconomic foundation that supports sustainable, private-sector-driven growth.

According to Cardoso, recent reforms in the foreign exchange market have been central to improving transparency and price discovery, while the adoption of orthodox monetary policy is helping to anchor expectations and contain macroeconomic risks.

He added that ongoing reforms in the banking sector are strengthening resilience, governance and capital buffers, positioning the financial system to better support productive investment.

Cardoso also pointed to the modernisation of the payments system as a critical component of Nigeria’s investment pitch, noting that efficient, secure and inclusive payment infrastructure is essential for business growth, innovation and financial inclusion.

The U.S.–Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable was convened by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center and brought together American and Nigerian corporate executives, institutional investors and policymakers. Discussions focused on Nigeria’s macroeconomic stabilisation efforts, regulatory clarity and opportunities to scale bankable projects across priority sectors of the economy.

The forum provided an opportunity for Nigerian policymakers to engage directly with potential investors on areas such as infrastructure, energy, financial services, agriculture and technology, while addressing concerns around policy consistency and the investment climate.

Reacting to the discussions, the President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Kendra Gaither, said global investors are increasingly drawn to markets that demonstrate discipline and credibility.

“What investors are responding to today is clarity, clear rules, credible reforms, and a seriousness of purpose. Nigeria’s message is increasingly one of discipline and opportunity, and that matters in a global economy seeking actively for stability and predictability,” Gaither said.

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