Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Explained

Agency Name:Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission
Jurisdiction:Federal Government of Nigeria
Headquarters:Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Chief1 Name:Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer;
Agency Type:Investment Promotion

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) is a specialized agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, established through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Act Chapter N117 of 2004.[1] It is aimed at encouraging, promoting, and coordinating all investments in Nigeria.[2] [3] The Federal Government of Nigeria, has tasked the investment promotion agency with attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) over the years.[4] [5]

Origin

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission was established by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development[6] through Chapter N117 of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Act of 1995, and later became a specialized agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria through Chapter N117 of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Act of 2004[7] by the former President of Nigeria Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo in a bid to enhance Nigeria’s investment climate, attract foreign investments and deviate from oil as the major growth rate of the Nigerian economy. The then President appointed his former Minister for Commerce, Engr. Mustapha Bello as the pioneer Executive Secretary/CEO of the Commission [8] and invited Mr Felix Ohiwerei, a boardroom guru, as the Chair of the Governing Board.

The commission was established to enhance Nigeria’s investment climate, attract foreign investments and deviate from oil as the major growth rate of the Nigerian economy. Nigerian President, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo appointed a former Minister for Commerce, Mustapha Bello as the pioneer Executive Secretary/CEO of the Commission,[9] as well as Felix Ohiwerei, as the Chair of the Governing Board.[10]

Administration

NIPC has a Governing council that comprises a Chairman, four independent members, the Executive Secretary/CEOs' permanent secretaries of seven ministries including; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Interior, Federal Ministry of Petroleum, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and six members from the private sector.[11]

The Commission’s Governing Council is chaired by Rt. Hon. Dr Babangida S.M. Nguroje OFR.[12] The Executive Secretary of the Commission is Saratu Altine Umar.[13] The organogram of the Commission has seven specialized departments — Finance & Administration, Investment Promotion, Investor Relations, Human Resources, Policy Advocacy, States Coordination and Strategic Communications. The Commission was structured to consist of North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East and South-West Zonal offices to work with sub-national state investment agencies in the coordinating and further actualization of the Federal Government’s mandate.

Leadership

Aisha Rimi is the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer[14] of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). Prior to her appointment, Hajja Gana Wakil was the Commission’s Acting Executive Secretary after Emeka Offor. Yewande Sadiku was the Executive Secretary and CEO from 8 November 2016 to 24 September 2021.[15] In 2015, the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan relieved the appointment of Saratu Altine Umar.

Organisational structure

The Commission’s Governing Council[16] is chaired by Rt. Hon. Dr Babangida S.M. Nguroje OFR. The Executive Secretary’s office is headed by Saratu Umar. The organogram of the Commission has seven specialised departments — Finance & Administration, Investment Promotion, Investor Relations, Human Resources, Policy Advocacy, States Coordination and Strategic Communications. Furthermore, the Commission was structured to consist of North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East and South-West Zonal offices to work with sub-national state investment agencies in the coordinating and further actualisation of the Federal Government’s mandate.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About NIPC . Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission . 14 January 2019.
  2. Web site: Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act. 9 September 2021. UNCTAD . unctad.org.
  3. Web site: 'NIPC committed to promoting investment' . Daily Trust . 26 November 2019 . en.
  4. Web site: INTERVIEW: What NIPC Is Doing To Grow Nigeria's Foreign Direct Investment -- Yewande Sadiku . 19 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Foreign Investments And The Role Of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission - Government, Public Sector - Nigeria . www.mondaq.com.
  6. Web site: Nigeria - Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act Investment Laws Navigator UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub . investmentpolicy.unctad.org.
  7. Web site: About NIPC . Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission . 14 January 2019.
  8. Web site: Bello Promises to Reposition NIPC . Daily Trust . Ahmed I. Shekarau And Kashim Sule . 3 December 2003. 2010-05-05.
  9. News: Shekarau. Ahmed. Nigeria - Bello Promises to Reposition NIPC. 9 September 2021. AllAfrica . Daily Trust.
  10. Web site: Boardroom Guru to he Puplpit. 9 September 2021. Nairametrics . 20 October 2018. Nairametrics.
  11. Web site: The NIPC Governing Council. 9 September 2021. NIPC . 7 February 2019. NIPC.
  12. Web site: Nguroje Lists Benefits. 9 September 2021. Daily Trust . 12 July 2019. Daily Trust.
  13. Web site: Buhari appoints Saratu Umar as NIPC boss. 14 March 2023. NIPC . 5 July 2022. Daily Post.
  14. Web site: 2022-07-05. Buhari Renews Saratu Umar’s Five-year Tenure as CEO of NIPC. 2023-03-21. This Day Live. en-US.
  15. Web site: 2021-09-26. Yewande Sadiku completes 5-year tenure as Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC. 2021-09-26. Nairametrics. en-US.
  16. Web site: Governing Council . Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission . 7 February 2019.