A coalition of civil society organisations advocating for the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company has announced plans to convene an international conference aimed at addressing Nigeria’s long-standing industrial challenges.
The virtual conference, scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., is themed “Ajaokuta Phenomenon in Tinubu’s Era: A Turning Point or Another Missed Opportunity?” and comes at a critical time in Nigeria’s economic trajectory.
Organised by the CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company, the event is expected to draw participants from across Nigeria and the international community, including experts from the United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, Belgium, and The Gambia.
According to the coalition, the conference will serve as a platform to assess the current status of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, widely regarded as central to Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, while also examining the level of commitment by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu toward its revival.
The National Coordinator of the coalition, Mohammed B. Attah, is expected to deliver a conference briefing, while Engr. Abdallah Sani of SOYUNIK Worldwide will give the opening remarks.
The event will also feature a keynote address by Prof. Banji Oyeyinka, a Visiting Fellow at The Open University, Aberdeen, and former staff of the African Development Bank, alongside goodwill messages from labour leaders, international business stakeholders, and academics.
A high-level panel discussion involving experts in engineering, trade, civil society, and human rights is expected to form a major part of the programme, with interactive sessions designed to encourage public participation.
The organisers said the conference aims to reignite national discourse on the strategic importance of Ajaokuta, provide evidence-based policy recommendations, and strengthen advocacy for transparency, accountability, and sustainable industrial development.
They added that the forum would also mobilise both domestic and international support for actionable reforms, culminating in the presentation of a communiqué outlining key resolutions and advocacy demands.
For decades, the Ajaokuta Steel Company has remained a symbol of Nigeria’s industrial aspirations and governance challenges. As the country continues to grapple with economic diversification and unemployment, stakeholders say the conference presents an opportunity to push for decisive action on the project’s revival.
The CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company, a non-partisan alliance formed in 2019, has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts aimed at repositioning the steel complex as a driver of national development and job creation.
