By Abiola Olawale
With soaring keen interest in the Gulf of Guinea’s $800bn energy, Oil & Gas and maritime investment opportunities as well as an outlined $3 trillion Coastal economy, which will be showcased at a High-Level Roundtable on GoG’s $800bn Energy, Oil and Gas, Aviation and Maritime Investment Opportunities on September, 25 in New York City as the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly commences, global industry players from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas’, have maintained that the important event will be groundbreaking forum.
Given the colossal number of high-profile delegations from about 15 countries, global CEOs, captains of transnational public-private sector entities, governors, ministers, United Nations Chiefs, top diplomats, friends of the Gulf of Guinea-G7++FoGG viz, Italy, the UK, Japan, Germany, France, industry leaders in the energy, Oil & Gas, aviation and maritime sectors, DFIs, projects financiers, global financial institutions, sector regulators, regional organizations, and other crucial stakeholders, that have indicated participation at the High-level Roundtable, the gathering will help unlock the immense potentials of the GoG and the larger coastal African economy.
Why is the event important?
In the light of the central role of global energy, oil and gas prices, solid minerals, logistics, maritime and aviation transportation architecture in various international jurisdictions, bolstered by deepening business interests in blue economy and blue diplomacy, it is apposite that the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) is focusing on the theme: “Building our Future Together.”
According to the organizers, the high-level forum therefore “provides a rare platform for public-private sector engagement, strategic cooperation, sustainable economic development, investment, knowledge exchange, and strengthening of cooperation frameworks across sectors.”
This is because the cruciality of the GoG and its immense economic capabilities make it a vital nexus for global maritime, energy, oil, and gas, and a logistical hub. For context, according to the OECD, the African coastal economy is projected to reach $3 trillion in five years, with the GoG contributing $800 billion and creating over 49 million jobs”.
Cruciality of the Gulf of Guinea
There is no doubt that the GoG accounts for about 50% of Africa’s oil with an estimated 10% of global reserves. According to data sourced from the GGC digital footprints, the Gulf of Guinea, which also serves as a vital shipping corridor and a source of abundant natural resources – from hydrocarbons and minerals to fisheries – making it an integral part of a regional and global economic hub, is a nexus for international trade, logistics, and transportation.
G2G, B2B & P2P Networks
The GoG is a critical gateway for investment, trade, and security cooperation, with over $800 billion in energy, oil and gas, maritime, and infrastructure opportunities. This event provides a rare platform for strategic G2G, B2B and P2P networks across international jurisdictions, direct access to target business undertakings, and forge inter-sectoral partnerships across GoG/Coastal States
Vital Market Access and Partnership formation
High-level government representatives, business leaders, investors from across African coastal countries, and participants will leverage the high-level forum as a strategic platform to align business priorities, strengthen networks, and foster cross-sectoral collaboration—public, private, and multilateral. Opportunity to unlock Over $800 billion energy, oil & gas, maritime, aviation and infrastructure opportunities, and leverage a projected $3 trillion African Coastal economy
Financing/Funding Architecture for Projects in the GoG
Another vital benefit of the forum is that it serves as a platform for the promotion and identification of financing/funding architecture for effective channelization of the Gulf of Guinea’s energy, oil & gas, minerals and maritime resources for regional economic growth, private sector development, and the benefits of citizens.
Deepening Blue Economy and Blue Diplomacy
According to the program, the forum also aims to promote regional collaboration on transnational projects in energy, oil & gas, maritime logistics, airlifting logistics, and minerals. In addition, it is a forum for harnessing emerging opportunities in the Blue Economy, supported by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Innovation and Corporate Vision
CEOs, captains of industry, and leaders of state-owned enterprises will also have a global platform to present their innovations, brands, and development models to a targeted international audience.
Driving Economic Growth and Job Creation
According to the OECD, the African coastal economy is projected to reach $3 trillion by 2030, with the GoG contributing about $800 billion and creating over 49 million jobs. According to analysts, the Roundtable will help position stakeholders at the forefront of this massive transformation.
Bolstering Regional Security
Another benefit is that the forum seeks to build Support for Nigeria’s offer to host the Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF-GoG) —a pivotal step to address piracy, oil theft, and maritime crime in the GoG.
Promote Regulatory Frameworks
Going by the programme, it is also designed to help in the evolution of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct into a binding legal framework, promote harmonized enforcement mechanisms and operationalization of the ASF/CMTF-GoG to safeguard regional assets and reduce investment risks.
Fortifying Intra-African Trade Growth and business opportunities
Industry players maintain that as AfCFTA removes trade barriers, investments in coastal infrastructure and maritime security will facilitate up to $560 billion in additional trade, including $450 billion in oil, gas, and maritime commerce over the next decade. Positioning entities to leverage on intra-African trade/business expansion, $800bn GoG economy, $3trillion opportunities in Blue Economy, Blue Diplomacy and the AfCFTA
Energy & Maritime Network
Be part of the key network for G2G and B2B framework in the GoG for energy, oil &gas, minerals, aviation and maritime sectors to harness the region’s $800 billion opportunities
Deepening Cooperation in Innovation and Regional Business Dynamics
The forum also aims to enhance technical cooperation and logistical innovation while accelerating regional business synergies through exploration of joint ventures and policy dialogues on aviation, strategic airlifting, and supply chain resilience—critical to peacekeeping, commerce, and regional response capabilities. It will also forge alliances between established and emerging energy-producing countries, and enable peer learning, private sector matchmaking, and knowledge-sharing that will help catalyze regional business growth and prosperity.
While throwing light on the event, eminent Nigerian international journalist-diplomat, Ambassador Oma Djebah, who is a former Nigerian Ambassador to Thailand with concurrent accreditation to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, and a Co-Lead host of the Roundtable, said the business community in the Gulf of Guinea region including Nigerian businesses have a lot to benefit from leveraging the abundant economic, investment, trade and business opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said: “Other key objectives of the high-level roundtable include showcasing national and regional efforts to strengthen energy, oil and gas, aviation and blue economies, advancing infrastructure and maritime security, and supporting the regional roadmap for peace, security, and sustainable development. The forum seeks to promote an enhanced private-public sector collaboration to unlock the region’s $800 billion infrastructure, oil & gas, minerals, and energy opportunities.”
Similarly, Ambassador Mohammed Bello Abioye, former Nigerian Ambassador to Pakistan with concurrent accreditation to the Maldives, who is a Co-Lead host of the event said expected outcomes from the high-level roundtable, include strengthened economic development efforts, enhanced investor confidence through clearer governance frameworks; expanded networks for B2B, G2G, and P2P cooperation in maritime, oil and gas, energy, aviation and infrastructure development.
Conclusion
According to Ambassador Abioye, others include: Unlocking funding/investment opportunities for both public and private sector players in the Gulf of Guinea region and facilitation of the creation of the Gulf of Guinea Business Council (GGBC) as a strategic regional business network, and a nexus for private & public sector engagement in the GoG.
On expected outcome from the roundtable, Ambassador Djebah, identified these to include: “ Mobilization of investments in maritime, oil & gas, and minerals’ projects in the GoG region; Showcase public-private collaboration models aligned with AfCFTA, Agenda 2063, and SDG 14 (Life Below Water); Drive technical partnerships around logistics, airlift, minerals, energy, oil and gas, and maritime capabilities, and promote the private Sector to benefit from the $800bn investment opportunities and a projected $3 trillion Coastal economy by the next five years.”
