BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, CFA, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, will be delivering a key note address titled “Achieving Investment-Grade Rating by 2030: The Roadmap for Nigeria.” at the 6th DataPro International Rating Webinar.

The webinar will focus on the sustainability of investment-grade status and how it could be better navigated for success.

This will form the basis of the conversation for the International Rating Webinar, holding on Thursday, October 8, 2026, under the theme “Sovereign Credit Rating: Africa’s Roadmap to Investment-Grade Status.”

Dr Uzoka’s participation will bring a direct policy perspective to the discussion, given the Ministry’s role in Nigeria’s economic planning and development agenda while contributing to the broader conversation on the reforms, economic governance and policy priorities required to strengthen Nigeria’s sovereign credit profile.

The webinar will bring together policymakers, development institutions, financial market operators, investors and corporate stakeholders for a high-level discussion on sovereign credit ratings, reform priorities, investor confidence and the road towards investment-grade status.

The discussion according to DataPro, has become pertinent as a result of Nigeria’s recent sovereign rating upgrade from B- to B noting that while the upgrade represents an improvement in the country’s credit profile, B remains below investment grade, focusing on the bigger question of what needs to change for Nigeria and other African economies to move further up the rating scale and sustain that progress.

“For emerging and frontier markets, stronger sovereign credit profiles can play an important role in how international investors assess risk. The webinar will therefore explore strategies for strengthening investor confidence and enhancing sovereign credibility in international financial markets.”

“The discussion will extend beyond Nigeria, considering the broader challenges facing African economies seeking to improve their credit standing. What can countries do to strengthen their economic fundamentals? Which reforms are most relevant to investment-grade aspirations? And how can improvements be sustained?”

Accordingt the agency, “There is no single path to investment grade. Countries have strengthened their sovereign credit profiles through different combinations of fiscal management, economic diversification, institutional development and financial resilience.

The webinar will examine international experiences and explore how lessons from other economies can be applied within emerging markets, particularly African economies.”