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In a rare fusion of traditional royalty and corporate ambition, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Obi (Professor) Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, has issued a formal invitation to investors to join him in positioning Asaba, the capital of Delta State, as a premier business hub.

The event, themed “An Evening with Corporate Nigeria: A Convergence of Culture and Capital,” saw the royal father outline a transformative vision leveraging the famed hospitality of his people and the availability of critical infrastructure. He pointed to the city’s functional airport as a key asset ensuring easy access for investors.

Dr. Boniface Chizea, chairman of the event’s organizing committee, praised the monarch’s out-of-the-box thinking, noting that Professor Azinge has established various committees to fast-track the well-being of his people. Chizea also highlighted the Blue Economy potential offered by the River Niger ecosystem.

Presenting specific investment opportunities, renowned economist Chief Afam Obiago described Asaba as a “Brown Field”, already showing early investor success rather than an untested “Green Field.” With a current population of approximately one million, 70% of whom are active youths, Obiago noted a 31% unemployment rate alongside an 80% literacy level, offering investors a ready market of skilled and semi-skilled labor.

He pointed to rapid urbanization driven by an influx from the South East and Asaba’s locational advantage as a neighbour to Onitsha, which hosts West Africa’s largest market. Real estate, he said, presents a massive opportunity, with a housing deficit exceeding 400,000 units. He added that with a functional airport, travel to Abuja and Lagos takes just 40 minutes.

Obiago also noted that good roads across Delta State provide easy access to Warri Port via Ughelli and Port Harcourt through Patani, while investors can benefit from incentives offered by the Kwale and Koko Free Trade Zones, both within reach of Asaba.

Ogbueshi Chike Ogeah, Managing Director of MacFolly Hospitality Limited and a former Delta State Commissioner for Information, described Asaba as the convergence point of all Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, making it an ideal base to access markets across the country.

The event drew top executives, including Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie of Rain Oil, Ogbueshi Ndu Obiagor of GEC Petroleum, Real Admiral Okoja (rtd) of Mercury Maritime Concession Limited, Pamela Sodipo (Executive Director, South-South, Fidelity Bank), Dr. Kingsley Nwokeoma (President, Association of Foreign Airlines in Nigeria), and Dr. Oscar Onyema, former CEO of the Nigeria Exchange Group.