PenOP: Govt Must Unlock Pension Assets to Finance $1tn Economic Aspiration
• Ifeanyi-Okoro says pension funds can bridge long-term financing gaps in infrastructure, housing, energy •Urges regulators, operators, government, private sector to deepen collaboration, unfreeze investment opportunities James Emejo in Abuja
The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOP) has highlighted the potential of pension assets as a vital source of long-term capital for financing infrastructure development and accelerating Nigeria's aim to become a $1 trillion economy by 20230. PenOP's CEO, Mrs. Anthonia Ifeanyi-Okoro, made this statement at the 2026 Pension Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PenCAN) conference in Abuja.
With pension assets estimated at around N33 trillion, Ifeanyi-Okoro emphasized the critical role of the pension industry in strategically mobilizing substantial funds over extended investment horizons to support economic transformation. She stressed that a $1 trillion economy is not merely an abstract goal but demands deliberate capital formation, long-term investments, and robust institutions to convert financial resources into productive economic activities.
Ifeanyi-Okoro stressed that unlocking the economic potential of pension funds should not jeopardize the financial security of contributors and urged a balance between promoting economic growth and safeguarding retirement savings. She also emphasized the need for collaboration among regulators, operators, government institutions, businesses, entrepreneurs, and international partners to create an enabling environment for both domestic and international capital to flow into productive sectors.
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