Heirs Holdings Chairman Tony Elumelu is backing efforts to gather a $15 billion portfolio of infrastructure projects across West Africa, organisers said. The initiative will showcase selected projects to potential financiers ahead of the inaugural West Africa Integration and Investment Summit in Sierra Leone in November. Prospective funders include the United Bank for Africa, the African Export-Import Bank, Africa Finance Corporation and Africa50. Priority sectors include energy, trade, industrialisation, strategic minerals, agriculture and digital infrastructure.
Organisers have shortlisted 26 projects worth more than $10 billion from 170 submissions spanning more than 10 countries, with expectations the portfolio will grow further. Special Envoy for the summit Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella said the selection showed progress in presenting investors with concrete regional opportunities. The summit, scheduled for 17 and 18 November at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, will convene governments, business leaders and development finance institutions.
The $15 billion figure represents the anticipated value of the investment pipeline rather than funding already committed. The initiative aims to connect viable proposals with financing institutions while aligning commercial opportunities with national and regional priorities. Energy and transport connections, agricultural investment and digital networks feature prominently in the regional integration agenda.