Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, is expected to meet with Joshua Hawley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IGA Capital, during the Africa Business & Investment Expo (ABIE) in Dubai. The discussions center on a potential multi-million-dollar investment in Ebonyi’s solid-minerals sector, with financing of more than $100 million being considered for qualifying projects from 2027. The proposed engagement underscores the increasing attention on Nigeria’s untapped mineral wealth and the critical role of international capital in unlocking economic diversification.
The meeting between Odii and Hawley, whose firm specializes in debt finance and structured capital solutions, will focus on opportunities to develop commercially viable mineral assets, processing facilities, and related infrastructure in Ebonyi. IGA Capital’s financing solutions start at $100 million and cover sectors including infrastructure, real estate, energy, mining, and agribusiness. This aligns with Odii’s stated agenda to make solid minerals a cornerstone of Ebonyi’s economic transformation, reducing the state’s reliance on federal allocations.
In a recent interview with THISDAY, Odii emphasized Ebonyi’s significant solid-mineral resources and outlined plans to establish an institution to coordinate mining activities, collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals on licensing and compliance, document mineral deposits, and attract credible investors. His broader economic agenda includes economic development and industrialisation, infrastructure, youth and human-capital development, and institutional reform. The proposed meeting with IGA Capital would provide a platform to examine how international project finance could be applied to specific mineral projects and related infrastructure, potentially catalyzing a wave of investment in the region.
Hawley has previously outlined IGA Capital’s interest in projects capable of supporting substantial economic activity. In the context of the proposed Ebonyi discussions, he said the firm is interested in opportunities where capital can support responsible mining, processing, infrastructure, and industrial development. “We are coming to Nigeria not simply to identify projects that are profitable on paper, but to find opportunities where our capital can create visible and measurable impact in the lives of people,” Hawley said. He added that IGA Capital would be interested in working with Odii’s administration if he assumes office and establishes the policy and investment environment required for international investors to participate in bankable projects.
“Our interest in Ebonyi is closely tied to the leadership and vision of Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii,” Hawley said. “If he assumes office and provides the leadership, policy direction and investment environment necessary for credible investors to operate, IGA Capital is prepared to work with his administration to develop bankable solid-mineral projects.” He noted that the firm’s interest extends beyond extraction to areas including processing, infrastructure, industrialisation, employment, and participation by local businesses.
However, the proposed investment is not a completed financing commitment at this stage. Any potential investment would depend on the identification of suitable projects, technical and commercial due diligence, regulatory requirements, financing structures, and definitive agreements between the relevant parties. The engagement is being facilitated by Anna Ochigbo, Head of Investment and Executive Director of Dotmount Communications, an international communications, strategic advisory, and investment-promotion firm that connects governments, businesses, investors, institutional stakeholders, and international media. Ochigbo is coordinating the discussions around potential investment opportunities, investor access, and strategic partnerships in Ebonyi’s solid-minerals sector.
The meeting is expected to take place as part of the broader Africa Business & Investment Expo, which is designed to connect international investors, governments, and African businesses around investment opportunities and strategic partnerships. For Ebonyi, the proposed engagement provides an opportunity to place the state’s mineral resources before an international project-finance firm and explore whether specific projects can meet the requirements for international financing. If successful, the investment could serve as a model for other Nigerian states seeking to attract foreign capital into their solid minerals sectors, potentially spurring job creation, infrastructure development, and economic growth.
