Nigeria is fully ready to host the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa, officials said Monday, about 10 days before the summit would kick off in capital Abuja.

Without any specific number mentioned, many heads of state in Africa and the world had indicated interest in attending the three- day international forum, said Martin Uhomoibhi, permanent secretary in the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The government of Nigeria reaffirms that it would live up to expectations on the hosting of the World Economic Forum and the national security operatives will be fully on ground," Uhomoibhi said at a meeting organized to brief the diplomatic corps in Abuja ahead of the summit.

Themed "Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs", the economic forum billed to hold between May 7 and May 9 will, according to its media coordinator, Ogho Okiti, give opportunity for more than 50 top chief executive officers of big global firms to proffer solutions to Africa and global economic problems.

"It is the first time the summit will hold in West Africa and it is an unprecedented opportunity for both cultural and economic diplomacy for Nigeria and the region," said Okiti, noting the summit is also holding in the year that Nigeria marked its centenary and coincides with the celebration of the country being the largest economy in Africa.

Hosting of the World Economic Forum on Africa is so significant to Africa's most populous country because in the history of the forum, it is being organized in West Africa for the first time, said Frank Nweke Junior, director general of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

He said the forum will address many problems and see to the economic growth of Africa, particularly Nigeria which is making great efforts toward addressing its economic problems.

In total, more than 6,000 security personnel, consisting of police and army, are expected to be deployed to secure areas of about 250 square kilometers in Abuja, a city which recently witnessed a deadly explosion blamed on Boko Haram.

The attack, which claimed more than 71 lives and injured 124 others exactly two weeks ago, had raised fears for international participants billed to attend the forum at the Nigerian capital city.

But the country's defense authorities had allayed fears of the international community, re-conveying the assurance by President Goodluck Jonathan about the safety of participants to the forum. "Abuja is safe," said Nigeria's defense chief Alex Badeh, while assuring that a water-tight security would be provided before and after the summit.

Also Nigeria's army chief Kenneth Minimah and the police chief Mohammed Abubakar jointly assured of high-level security measures put in place for the safety of all the participants.

"Security of Nigeria is guaranteed to all nationals, international investors and everyone, aside the World Economic Forum," said Minimah, who disclosed the military had cordoned off all the strategic areas in the capital city.

"For six months, Nigeria Police have been on top of the situation. All that needs to be done has been done in terms of security," added Abubakar, the local police chief.

The World Economic Forum is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public- private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship.