Over 5,000 participants including business owners and investors are currently in Abuja for the 6th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, convened by the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI) in collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
The year edition with the theme “New Vistas, New Aspirations,New Opportunities: The Diaspora and National Development”recorded presence of Nigerians in Diaspora investors and non Nigerians who are keen in investing in the Nigeria’s economy.
In her remarks,Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO,Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)said the overall goal of the Summit was to demonstrate that engaging the Diaspora is a
more effective and sustainable strategy for attracting inward investment into the
emerging diversified Nigerian economy.
She said NDIS objectives included:
– Establish a platform where Diaspora investors can interact with other
potential sponsors, partners, business promoters and the government.
– Business match making opportunities.
– Showcase and explore the business and sponsorship opportunities in all the
36 States of Nigeria for Diaspora investment.
She maintained that since its inception, NDIS has been living up
to its expectations of attracting Diaspora investment into local businesses in
Nigeria, with bounteous success stories, in terms of business connections and
social impact.
Dabiri-Erewa said”With over 5,000 participants recorded, 900 business links established
and over 200 deals closed, NDIS has come into its own as the leading business
networking event for connecting Nigerian business owners and NGO operators
with Nigerian Diaspora-based investors. It has also provided a platform for the Diaspora community to give back, by providing support for several deserving
NGOs.
“Specifically, the Summit will be focusing on the following sectors:
Healthcare; Education; Agribusiness; Creative, Entertainment & Sports;
Telecommunication; ICT/Fintech; Manufacturing; Real Estate. This hybrid summit will showcase the investment opportunities available in these sectors and the development framework put in place to make investing in Nigeria more attractive to Nigeria Diaspora investors.
“In the quest of the Federal Government to go far in repositioning the
economy, there is a need to partner with the Diaspora in achieving these goals.
This is why the Summit with this year’s theme being New Vistas, New Aspirations,
New Opportunities: The Diaspora and National Development is very appropriate
because it creates innovative platforms of partnerships, between the Government and the Diaspora, in attracting investment into local businesses and thus enhancing Foreign Direct Investment in the country.
“Also, facilitating economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy solutions, which is expected to boost cross-sectoral investment cooperation.
“A few of the local firms and companies that have benefited through
participating at NDIS, include include start-ups like Opalson Nigeria Limited
which exports agro commodities from Nigeria to the international market;
Nairaxi (logistics tech); Surejobz App (recruitment tech); iSTEMLabs Africa
(education tech); and KudiMata, the Fintech education start-up now expanding into a household name in Nigeria.
“Also, Quebec Food Processing Industrial Parks Limited entered a partnership
with an integrated farm estate for investors to provide equity financing for the farm’s existing value chains, while Sea Group Sousse Tunisie entered into a
Substrates agreement with a German company for a food and beverage
project.
“Beyond this, NDIS has over the years been expanding its participants’
network, showcasing their products and services to target audience such as the
Diaspora investors, sponsors and government actors.
“To our dear invited guests, it is our belief that sustenance of this yearly event
will continue to encourage the Diaspora community in giving them a sense of
belonging to contribute their quota, in enhancing productivity of the National
economy, and in the immediate long run, contribute towards the needed
sustainable development in Nigeria.
So, I once again welcome you to this Summit and encourage you to have a
mutually productive business engagements during the sessions”.
