The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has opened its first Sub-Saharan Africa office in Lagos and it’s backing the move with a target of at least $1.5 billion in Nigerian investment over the next three years.
In this exclusive interview, EBRD Vice President for Banking Matteo Patrone tells BizWatch Nigeria why the bank is betting on Nigeria now, which sectors are getting priority (agribusiness, SMEs, energy, telecom, real estate), how EBRD plans to hedge against naira volatility, and what Nigerian policymakers and business leaders should expect next.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro — EBRD opens first Sub-Saharan Africa office in Lagos
00:35 Why the Lagos office matters
01:42 Why now is the right time for Nigeria
02:40 Priority sectors: agribusiness, SMEs, tech, real estate
04:10 What EBRD looks for in investee companies
06:55 Hedging against inflation and FX volatility
08:00 Nigeria’s energy sector opportunity
09:06 Measuring impact beyond deal value07:30
10:00 How country governance works at EBRD
📊 EBRD has already committed $280 million in Nigeria since October 2025, with a $1.5 billion target over the next three years.
🔔 Subscribe to BizWatch Nigeria for more business intelligence, executive interviews, and sector analysis shaping Africa’s largest economy.
🌐 Read the full story: bizwatchnigeria.ng
 has opened its first Sub-Saharan Africa office in Lagos and it’s backing the....){kind=link}