Tinubu urges diaspora to drive investment as Gbajabiamila heads high-powered Canada mission

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has intensified his administration’s drive to attract foreign direct investment by dispatching a high-powered delegation, led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, to Canada for the inaugural Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference (NIDEC 2026).

The conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” will be held in Toronto from August 12 to 15 and is expected to bring together senior government officials, investors, business leaders and members of the Nigerian diaspora to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.

According to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the calibre of the delegation reflects the Tinubu administration’s determination to leverage the economic influence of Nigerians abroad to stimulate investment, trade and stronger bilateral ties with Canada.

In a statement by NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Commission’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the conference represented a major step in strengthening economic cooperation between both countries.

“The high-level government delegation to the conference showcases the President’s commitment to promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

She described the conference as more than an investment forum, saying it would serve as “a shared commitment of both countries to strengthen bilateral economic relations.”

The Federal Government delegation comprises key officials responsible for Nigeria’s economic, investment, trade and migration policies.

They include Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as well as the governors of Anambra, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau and Zamfara states—Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Prof. Babagana Zulum, Senator Uba Sani, Caleb Mutfwang and Dauda Lawal.

Also expected are Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Senator Ita Enang; representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Revenue Service and the Central Bank of Nigeria; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi; Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni; and Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

Canada will be represented by senior government officials, including President of the Treasury Board Shafqat Ali, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Graham McGregor, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament Deepak Anand, Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown, Brampton City Councillor Rod Power and Ontario Minister of Women and Economic Opportunities Charmaine Williams.

NiDCOM said the conference is being organised in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja and other national and international stakeholders.

According to the commission, the event is designed to connect global investors and members of the Nigerian diaspora with “investment-ready” opportunities across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“The Investment Conference serves as a definitive bridge connecting global leaders to investment-ready opportunities back home, with focus on high-impact sectors that are the engines of Nigeria’s future growth and development,” the statement said.