The Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) is the largest trade exhibition in Sub-Saharan Africa, attracting over 1,600 companies across more than 40,000m² of exhibition space and welcoming over 500,000 visitors annually. Supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Lagos State Government, the Fair serves as a premier platform for business networking, investment opportunities, and cross-border partnerships.
ECOWAS Pavilion, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Commissioner for Internal Services, ECOWAS
Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma is a renowned economist, academic, and public policy expert with extensive experience across the banking, academic, and government sectors. He began his professional career in Nigeria’s financial industry, working with leading banks such as All States Trust Bank Limited, International Merchant Bank Plc, and Gulf Bank Nigeria Limited, where he built a strong foundation in finance, investment, and corporate strategy. His transition to academia marked the start of a distinguished career dedicated to teaching, research, and national development. At the University of Abuja, Professor Darma has served with distinction, rising through the ranks to become a Professor of Economics with specialization in Development Economics and Public Finance. His public service record includes key national assignments, notably as Team Leader for Research and Documentation at the Debt Management Office (DMO) and as a senior official at the National Planning Commission, where he held several leadership positions including Acting Director of Economic Growth and Head of the Secretariat of the National Economic Council. He has also served as Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, University of Abuja, Chairman of the Daily Trust Board of Economists, and currently serves as the Special Adviser on Economic Matters to the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, while also being a Directing Staff at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja. Professor Darma has made significant contributions to policy development and capacity building through his work on national frameworks such as the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025). He has attended over twenty global leadership and management programs at institutions including Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, the Royal Institute of Public Administration (RIPA) in London, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. A prolific scholar and mentor, he has supervised numerous postgraduate research projects, published widely in academic journals, and continues to play a vital role in shaping Nigeria’s economic policy and institutional growth.
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