Benin investors conference targets economic rebirth, wealth creation

Imasuen Izoduwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Ughoron Group of Companies and convener of the Benin Investors Conference, has unveiled a broad-based socio-economic initiative aimed at repositioning Edo South as a hub for investment, entrepreneurship and collective wealth creation.

Speaking in an interview ahead of the conference scheduled for December, Izoduwa said the initiative was conceived to address what he described as the absence of a coordinated economic movement among Benin people despite decades of socio-cultural and political engagements.

According to him, the conference will serve as a platform to connect successful Benin professionals, investors, entrepreneurs and diaspora stakeholders with young talents and emerging businesses across the seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District.

Central to the initiative is what he termed the “Benin First Philosophy,” a model designed to encourage economic patronage and investment within the Benin community in order to strengthen local wealth circulation, business sustainability and long-term prosperity.

Izoduwa disclosed that the three-day conference would feature investment sessions, mentorship engagements, business networking opportunities and recognition awards for outstanding Benin sons and daughters excelling in sectors including banking, technology, agriculture, entertainment and sports.

He said the conference would also launch three strategic initiatives — the Benin Film Enterprise, the Benin Entrepreneurship and Mentorship School, and the Benin Trust Fund — all aimed at building sustainable economic structures for future generations.

The proposed Benin Trust Fund, which Izoduwa described as the cornerstone of the project, is expected to operate through a digital contribution platform that allows participants to make daily contributions ranging from N50 to N500 toward entrepreneurship funding, scholarships, skills acquisition and development projects.

He explained that if 200,000 contributors committed N100 daily, the initiative could generate over N7 billion annually, with the resources to be managed by trusted professionals drawn from the seven local governments in Edo South under a transparency-driven structure.

Izoduwa further stated that the conference would create opportunities for young entrepreneurs to pitch business ideas directly to investors and diaspora stakeholders seeking credible investment opportunities within Benin land, thereby bridging the gap between innovation and capital.

He added that the long-term vision of the conference is to inspire a new era of economic cooperation, mentorship and self-reliance capable of transforming Benin society into a stronger and globally competitive economic community.