Odita Sunday 
Civil society organisations under the aegis of the CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company have announced plans to convene an international conference to assess the future of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.
The coalition, in a media release signed by its National Coordinator, Mohammed Bougei Attah, said the virtual conference will hold on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM.
Themed “Ajaokuta Phenomenon in Tinubu’s Era: A Turning Point or Another Missed Opportunity?”, the group said the event would interrogate the status and prospects of the long-abandoned steel project.
The statement noted that the conference would attract stakeholders from Nigeria and across the globe, including participants from the United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, Belgium, and The Gambia.
It explained that the conference is aimed at reigniting national conversations on Ajaokuta, assessing the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and advancing policy recommendations.
The coalition added that the event would also focus on strengthening advocacy for transparency and mobilising support for reforms in the steel sector.
Highlights of the conference include opening remarks by Engr. Abdallah Sani of SOYUNIK Worldwide, a briefing by Mohammed B. Attah, goodwill messages, and a keynote address by Prof. Banji Oyeyinka, Visiting Fellow at The Open University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and former African Development Bank staff.
A panel discussion and interactive sessions are also scheduled, with a communiqué to be issued at the end.
The coalition said Ajaokuta remains a symbol of Nigeria’s industrial aspirations and longstanding governance challenges, stressing that the conference presents an opportunity to push for decisive action.
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