Over two hundred thousand participants are set to take part in the sixth Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, NDIS, geared towards driving diaspora direct investments to Nigeria.
The Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated this in Abuja, ahead of the three-day summit slated for November 13 to 15 , 2023.
The sixth edition, with the theme “New Vistas, New Aspirations: The Diaspora and National Development,” focuses its primary attention on agriculture and its low-hanging fruits for food security and economic growth in the nation.
According her, “The participants include 72 identified Nigerian Diaspora investors, 196 small business owners, 148 representatives of private sector entities, and 88 public officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies in-person participants, with 1,250 expected virtual participants.”
Dr.Dabiri Erewa, explained that the goal of the summit is to highlight that, in a competitive environment for Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, directing investment efforts towards Nigerians living abroad may be the most effective strategy with Nigeria’s substantial diaspora population, of over 15 million citizens residing abroad.
“NDIS provides a unique platform for engagement between the Nigerian diaspora and global investors, promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth and development in Nigeria.” She noted.
As the sixth in its series, the NiDCOM Boss stated that the Summit has become a brand, driving Diaspora Direct Investments to Nigeria.
“The previous Summits have birthed many success stories for emerging start-up businesses, business investments, as well as social impacts interventions done to improve the socio-economic situation of the country.
This year’s Summit has Heifer International, an NGO, as its lead sponsor, as well as, other private and public sector organisations that are passionate about the Summit and its objectives.” She stated.
The Technical Lead and interim Country Director, Heifer International Nigeria, Dr. Lekan Tobe said that he was pleased to collaborate with NiDCOM at this year’s event.
He pointed out that” the Summit has established itself as the premier platform for connecting Nigerians in the diaspora with opportunities for direct investment and engagement in the country’s burgeoning industries.”
Dr. Tobe added that “NDIS 2023 will further strengthen the links between Nigeria and its diaspora communities while exposing a dynamic view of investment opportunities and prospects in various sectors, particularly Agriculture, which is its focus sector.”
Food Self-sufficiency
“We feel that our goal of assisting more than two million households to achieve sustainable living income by 2030, through strategic private and public sector partnerships that will support the unlocking of the potential in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to achieve food self-sufficiency is fully aligned with that of the summit, as expressed through the NDIS initiative.”
In a related development, the Director General, Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa, DTCA, Ambassador Rabiu Dagari explained that Nigeria needs to critically harness the potential of its Diaspora, like its Indian and South African counterparts for national development.
Similarly, the Coordinator, Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative. Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams enjoined everyone, especially those in the Diaspora, “to invest inwards for an upward economic development in Nigeria.” And those who are yet to register should do so
at www.ndisng.com.
The three-day hybrid event will include business pitching sessions, a special session by Heifer International, a crowdfunding panel session, business exhibitions, and networking opportunities for business connections.
NDIS is an annual event, jointly organised by the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), an Incorporated Trustee organisation and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria whose mandate is to facilitate engagement between Nigerians in Diaspora and the home country.
It was launched in 2018 as a platform for facilitating diaspora engagement and effective participation in the nation’s economic activities.
Shakirat Sadiq
