Ethipos Tafara, Vice President for Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will visit Nigeria from January 29 to February 4, 2026, as part of IFC’s continued engagement to strengthen private-sector development and investment-led growth in the country.
During the visit, Mr. Tafara will meet with senior government officials, private sector leaders, financial institutions, and development partners to discuss priorities for enhancing Nigeria’s investment climate, mobilising private capital, and expanding opportunities for inclusive and resilient economic growth.
Tafara will be accompanied by Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director for Nigeria and Central Africa, along with senior members of IFC’s regional and country leadership teams. Their participation reflects IFC’s integrated approach across investment and advisory services, including financial institutions, infrastructure, agribusiness, manufacturing, and services.
The visit will be marked by a set of strategic engagements reflecting International Finance Corporation’s priorities in Nigeria, spanning healthcare infrastructure, the creative and cultural economy, and public-private collaboration to strengthen the investment climate.
These engagements underscore IFC’s continued focus on mobilising private capital, supporting enterprise growth, and advancing inclusive, investment-led economic development across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Nigeria is IFC’s second-largest exposure in Africa and among its 10 largest globally, with an active investment of US$2.1 billion. Its investments span key sectors such as financial services, agribusiness, manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy, with a strong emphasis on local currency financing, climate finance, and SME development to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Steven Umidha is a data and financial journalist with over 14 years of work experience in journalism and communication.
He specialises in finance and economics reporting as well as on the causes, impacts, and solutions of global warming, conservation, pollution and sustainability, often blending scientific literacy with journalist ethics, while involving policy analysis and multimedia storytelling across various platforms in highlighting issues from biodiversity loss to ecological justice.
Besides being the Founder of Financial Fortune Media, Umidha has previously worked with the Standard Media Group, Mediamax Networks LTD, bird story agency, Business Journal Africa, and Financial Post among other outlets.