Nigerian Diaspora Summit, since inception, 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.
Chairman, Nigerian in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa who made this known in her special remarks at the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit Initiative (NDIS) in Abuja on Monday, revealed that the summit recorded 5,000 participants, 900 business links established and over 200 deals closed.
She added that NDIS has become the leading business networking event for connecting Nigerian business owners and the NGO operators with Nigerian Diaspora based investors, providing a platform for Diaspora community to give back by supporting several deserving NGOs.
NIDCOM Boss stated that the overall goal of this summit is to demonstrate that engaging the Diaspora is a more effective, sustainable strategy for attracting inward investment into the emerging diversified Nigerian economy, with objectives being to establish a platform where Diaspora investors can interact.
“With other potential sponsors, partners, business promoters and the government. Business match making opportunities and showcasing and exploring the business and sponsorship opportunities in all 36 States of Nigeria for Diaspora investment”, she said.
Dabiri-Erewa specified that the Summit will be focusing on the following sectors: Healthcare; Education; Agribusiness; Creative, Entertainment & Sports;
Telecommunication; ICT/Fintech; Manufacturing and Real Estate.
Speaking on why the Summit with this year’s theme being New Vistas, New Aspirations, New Opportunities: the NIDCOM chairman said for the Federal Government to go far in its quest of repositioning the economy, there is a need to partner with the Diaspora in achieving these goals.
She said, “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.
“And Also facilitating economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy soutions, which is expected to boost cross-sectoral investment cooperation”, she added.
NIDCOM Boss mentioned few of the local firms and companies that have benefited through participating at NDIS, include start -ups like Opalson Nigeria Limited which exports agro commodities from Nigeria to the international market.
“Nairaxi (logistics tech); Surejobz App (recruitment tech); iSTEM LabsAfrica (education tech); and KudiMata, the Fintech education start-up now expanding into a household name in Nigeria”, she said.
Dabiri-Erewa concluded that the sustenance of this yeary 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, in immediate long run, contribute towards the needed sustainable development in Nigeria.
