• Focus to be on Agribusiness, technology, healthcare, others
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima will be the special guest of honour and main keynote speaker at the 6th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS2023), scheduled to hold in Abuja from November 13 to 15, 2023.
The summit, the first under the President Bola Tinubu’s administration aims to bring together diaspora investors seeking opportunities for investment in Nigeria, Nigerian businesses seeking venture capital, and financial intermediaries and stakeholders with an interest in the Nigerian economy’s diversification and attractiveness to investment inflows.
The summit is a private sector initiative supported by the Nigerian government through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and aims to demonstrate that targeting Nigerians in the diaspora for inward investment is probably the best strategy for a country like Nigeria with over 15 million of its citizens gainfully domiciled in diaspora.
Over 2,000 interested participants, including at least 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 are expected to attend the summit in person, with a further 1,250 expected to participate virtually
Addressing a press conference at the weekend, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, listed some of the high-profile guests expected at the summit to include the President and Chairman, Board of Directors, African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), Benedict Oramah, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh and Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Bunkure.
She added that the Director-General, Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Rabiu Dagari, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Gana Wakil; Africa Senior Vice-President, Heifer International, Adesuwa Ifedi are among other dignitaries are also expected.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the focus sectors for the summit include agribusiness, technology, education, healthcare, real estate and infrastructure, creative, sport and entertainment; energy, mining and manufacturing, among others.
She said, “This year’s summit – a hybrid event enabling remote participation via online channels – is particularly special, being the first under the new administration of HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and will have as its Special Guest of Honour and Main Keynote Speaker, HE Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“With Heifer International, a nonprofit charity on a mission to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way as its Lead Sponsor, this year’s summit promises to be a significant milestone in promoting economic collaboration, harnessing opportunities, and fostering a revamped investment climate for Nigeria,” She added.
The NiDCOM boss added that: “NDIS2023 will build on the successes of previous summits to open new vistas, ignite new aspirations, and explore yet more innovative pathways to national development by attracting Diaspora investment into the Nigerian economy.”
She also revealed that the Diaspora Housing Mortgage Scheme would be launched by the Minister of Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa,
during the summit.
The Interim Country Director of Heifer International Nigeria, Lekan Tobe said, “NDIS has established itself as the premier platform for connecting Nigerians in the diaspora with opportunities for investment and engagement in the country’s burgeoning industries.
“NDIS 2023 aims to strengthen the bonds between Nigeria and its diaspora communities while revealing a dynamic view of investment opportunities and prospects in various sectors, particularly Agriculture, which is our focus sector.
“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.”
He added that since inception, NDIS has recorded many success stories, both in terms of business connections and social impact. With over 5,000 participants recorded, 900 business links established and over 200 deals closed.