The Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) has kicked off in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as part of effort today showcase and attract more foreign direct investment to Nigeria.
The fifth Investment summit with the theme “Optimising Investment Opportunities for National Development” is a private sector driven initiative featuring areas of competitive advantages across states in Nigeria.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was represented by the Secretary to the Commission,
Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, said that all the successes achieved should be attributed to Diaspora community.
“A greater degree of recognition should be accorded to the Diaspora Community, numbering over 17 million Nigerians, who have contributed over $20billion dollars in remittances to the economy in 2021. The Diaspora engagement is not only demographic but also more of an economic factor towards national development which has translated to the Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI) “.
Dr. Dabiri-Erewa, added that ” the NDIS has over the years served as a linkage between entrepreneurs and investors, home and abroad, in major business specialisations which has successfully given rise to job opportunities, economic growth and more taxable income to the Federal Government.”
This year’s event is focused on the grassroots investment and sub-national levels because that is where the opportunities are, for realtime investments.
You will recall that last year’s thematic focus was on Borno and Nassarawa States, while this year targets Ondo State and its plethora of viable businesses for investment.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Investment Summit, Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, said that the Summit for the fifth time running has birthed many success stories, such stories are possible because of the robust business policies especially the presidential initiative on ease of doing business in Nigeria .
“The success stories recorded from past Summits, corroborates the Vice President’s attestation. Worthy of note of these success stories are two tech businesses that were selected to showcase their products at the Dubai 2022 Fair as a result of their pitches at the Summit. “
Similarly, the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) received a number of expressions of interest in the international distribution and marketing of their chocolates at the last Summit.
“All these achievements cannot be possible without the participation of notable Diaspora investors who trusted in the NDIS vision and were also willing to invest in the businesses showcased thus tripling their investment, creating job opportunity and consequently, improving the economy”.
Also, the Founder, Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) Mr. Bimbo Roberts Folayan, who joined virtually said that the Summit is a laudable project which has jointly engaged Nigerians home and abroad to develop keen attachment to the development of their homeland, Nigeria.
Mr. Folayan added that trust should be a key factor in creating a conducive business environment.
The Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr. Haman Madu, said that with the Diaspora Housing packages available, trust and honesty are the twin investment portfolio needed to establish and sustain businesses as well as services by and for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The annual event attracted Nigerians, home and abroad, from all walks of life to attend the hybrid investment Summit.
