KENNA convenes infrastructure colloquium in Enugu to address financing gaps in the National Development Agenda

Nigerian commercial law firm, KENNA, is set to contribute to bridging the financing gaps in national infrastructure development at a colloquium scheduled for Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Enugu, with the theme: “Support Mechanisms for Infrastructure Development and Financing.”

The colloquium will convene business leaders and key stakeholders in the public and private sectors to explore practical approaches to unlocking capital, managing project risks, and leveraging innovative support mechanisms to accelerate infrastructure development in Nigeria and across the region.

The session will feature a presentation by the Senior Partner of KENNA, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, on financing opportunities for infrastructure development. A panel comprising experts, including the Director, Office of the Attorney General, Mrs. Uzoamaka Okeji; Chairman, Enugu North LGA and legal practitioner, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh; Regional Manager of UBA Enugu, Chiaka Mbagwu, and Partners at KENNA, Okechukwu Ekweanya and Nimma Jo-Madugu, will also deliberate on strategies to strengthen infrastructure financing and enable rapid economic growth for both the region and the nation.

Commenting on the significance of the colloquium, the Managing Partner of KENNA, Ituah Imhanze, stated: “This colloquium comes at a critical time when infrastructure gaps continue to widen across the country. We believe that with the right support mechanisms and financing models, Nigeria can unlock the full potential of its infrastructure sector. Infrastructure development goes beyond just roads and bridges; it is about creating jobs, opening up communities, and building real, lasting impact. That is the calibre of conversation to expect at the colloquium.”

Nigeria faces a significant infrastructure gap, with experts, including the Infrastructure Bank Plc, estimating that the country will require over $3 trillion (USD) over the next 30 years to close it. Despite this growing need, the nation continues to struggle with mobilising the requisite resources to bridge the gap. This challenge has prompted more private stakeholders to step in and contribute their quota towards meeting the demand.

Partner at KENNA and Head of the firm’s Infrastructure and Development Practice, Okechukwu Ekweanya, stated: “It is clear that a deep understanding of the requisite legal, financial, and policy frameworks that sit at the heart of infrastructure development is required in order to be able to effectively support stakeholders to drive infrastructural development in Nigeria. Having worked alongside governments, investors, and developers to navigate financing, regulation, and execution, we understand where the bottlenecks are and are keen to make an impact on a larger scale for the benefit of all.”

KENNA was founded in 1993 and has its practice in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu. The colloquium underscores the firm’s thought leadership in shaping Nigeria’s infrastructural development.