The small port town of Koko, in Delta State, is about to host an unlikely convergence of fairway enthusiasts and hard‑nosed investors. In December, the inaugural Canaan Land Smart City Golf Tournament and Business Conference will unfold on the newly‑carved greens of Canaan Land, a development that its promoters hope will put Koko on the map as Nigeria’s next investment hotspot.
The three‑day event, organised by the Akogate Group, is being billed as a showcase of Delta’s untapped potential. “Koko Town is a hub for fishing and shrimping operations, and there are a lot of oil and gas companies operating nearby,” said Felix Aganbi, chief executive of Akogate, at a press briefing last week.
“Whether you are a local or foreign investor, or you are looking at residential or commercial properties, there is something for everyone in Koko,” he added.
The golf tournament – which will feature a mix of veteran professionals and rising stars
from across Africa, Europe and the United States – is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a calculated branding exercise.
Aganbi explained that the event will “showcase the diverse range of opportunities that the port town has to offer,” from real‑estate and agriculture to health, tourism and logistics. The timing is deliberate: the tournament coincides with the final stages of a coastal road that will shrink the drive between Delta and Lagos to under two hours, and with several refinery projects moving forward along the Benin‑Sapele expressway.
Security, often a sticking point for foreign delegations in Nigeria, has been given top priority. “Steps have been taken to ensure that visitors from within and outside the country have a secure and conducive atmosphere within which to assess the economic opportunities of Koko,” Aganbi assured.
He highlighted the “tight security” and the “hospitality for which the residents are known,” noting that top Nigerian businessmen, foreign diplomats and senior government officials are expected to attend.
The conference component will unpack the specifics of Koko’s value proposition.
Situated just 30 minutes from Benin City and about 45 minutes from Warri, the town
already boasts the best aquatic products in Nigeria, a fact that has attracted a cluster of
fishing and shrimp‑processing firms.
The upcoming completion of the coastal highway, coupled with ongoing refinery construction, promises to turn Koko into a logistics corridor linking the oil‑rich Niger Delta to the commercial heartland of Lagos.
For investors, the pitch is clear: a strategic location, a diversified economic base, and a
government eager to attract private capital. “The event will drive long‑term sustainable economic participation and create new opportunities for local and foreign investors,” Aganbi said. “It will provide valuable insights into untapped business opportunities, encourage private‑sector participation, showcase the real‑estate and tourism potentials of Koko and unite the people and the communities,” he said.
Analysts are cautiously optimistic. While Delta remains one of Nigeria’s most resource‑rich states, its GDP of $15.33 billion (2021) lags behind that of Lagos ($259 billion), and infrastructure gaps have historically hampered growth. Yet the combination of a purpose‑built smart‑city infrastructure, improved road connectivity and a concerted effort to market Koko’s coastal assets could mark a turning point.
The golf tournament, with its blend of sport and commerce, is likely to generate headlines far beyond the fairways. If the three days succeed in translating the enthusiasm of the greens into concrete deals – whether a joint‑venture shrimp farm, a residential complex for the growing middle class, or a logistics hub feeding the refineries – Koko may soon be referenced not just as a fishing village, but as a nascent
smart city that finally leverages the Delta’s strategic advantage.
In the meantime, spectators can expect a well‑guarded venue, a warm welcome from the locals, and perhaps a few surprise business cards exchanged on the 18th hole. The real question is whether the swing of a golf club can also swing open the doors of investment for Delta’s coastal gateway.
The 2025 Canaan Land Smart City Golf Tournament and Business conference will begin on Friday, December 12 in Delta State.
Koko Town has the huge potential for investment, particularly in real estate, agriculture, health, tourism and other areas. So we are expecting investors and some of the most famous and highly-ranked golfers in the sport’s history and in the contemporary game from different parts of the world’’ a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Akogate Group, Felix Aganbi, said.
“Top business men in Nigeria and abroad, members of the diplomatic corps and key actors in government across the country are looking forward to converging on Koko beginning from December 12, 2025. They are excited by the prospect of experiencing the hospitality for which the good people of Koko are known for and the vast opportunities for commerce, tourism and industry”.
According to Aganbi, the event is expected to drive long term sustainable economic participation and create new opportunities for local and foreign investors in the area. “It will provide valuable insights into untapped business opportunities, encourage private sector participation, showcase the real estate and tourism potentials of Koko and unite the people and the communities”.
