In a landmark gathering at the Aso Villa Banquet Hall, the Nigeria Forest Economic Summit (NFES) 2025 brought together government leaders, private sector investors and development partners to activate the nation’s $2 billion forest economy potential.
The summit, a strategic collaboration between the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI) and the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), marked a turning point for Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda.
The high-level event witnessed the participation of Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, alongside cabinet ministers and traditional rulers, local and international partners and BCDA Management Team.
The discussions centered on transforming Nigeria’s forest resources into engines of job creation, financial inclusion and climate-resilient growth.
Dr. George-Kelly D. Alabo, FNIQS, DSSRS, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Border Communities Development Agency, revealed during his keynote presentation that Nigeria boasts of over 10.6 million hectares of forests, our current carbon credit earnings remain below $50 million annually, is a mere fraction of the $2 billion potential we can achieve through proper valuation and sustainable management.
The summit yielded several critical outcomes including the establishment of a dedicated forest economy financing framework to attract investments, comprehensive skills development programs for forest communities, and innovative public-private partnerships to develop premium forest products. Dr. Kelly emphasized BCDA’s commitment to ensuring border communities benefit equitably from these initiatives while calling for immediate action against deforestation.
A key resolution focused on large-scale planting of high-value economic trees such as cocoa, rubber, moringa and oil palm. This dual-purpose strategy promises to simultaneously boost agricultural exports while creating valuable carbon sinks.
The NFES 2025 has set in motion a coordinated national effort, with PreCEFI and BCDA leading State Governments and development partners in transforming Nigeria’s forest sector into a model of inclusive green growth.
