The Nigerian Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI) in partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) have opened the fifth edition of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) in Abuja.
Blueprint reports that the annual event attracted Nigerians locally and globally from all walks of life to attend the hybrid summit.
NIDCOM Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit in a press statement in Abuja, said NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated that a greater degree of recognition should be accorded to the Diaspora community, numbering over 17 million Nigerians, and who have contributed over $20billion dollars in remittances to the economy in 2021.
The statement signed by Gabriel Odu, further noted that
Dabiri-Erewa maintained that 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).
The commission’s boss, who was represented by Secretary to the NIDCOM, Engr. Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, remarked that the NDIS has over the years served as a linkage between entrepreneurs and investors, home and abroad, in major business specialisations which have successfully given rise to job opportunities, economic growth and more taxable income to the federal government.
She said the event was focused on the grassroots investment and sub-national levels because, “that is where the opportunities are for real. time investments.
Dabiri-Erewa recalled 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.
The Coordinator of the Investment Sunmit, Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, said the Summit for the fifth time running have birthed many success stories.
Williams maintained that such stories are possible because of the robust business policies especially the presidential initiative on ease of doing business in Nigeria.
She commended the commission’s boss Dabiri-Erewa, for her innumerable support and hope for another productive engagement.
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 homeland, Nigeria.
Mr. Folayan added that trust should be a key factor in creating a conducive business environment.
In his part, the MD, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr. Haman Madu stated that with the Diaspora Housing packages available, he emphasised that trust and honesty are the twin investments portfolio needed to establish and sustain businesses as well as services by and for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The NDIS 2022 is the fifth edition of the Summit. The three-day event has as theme: “Optimising Investment Opportunities for National Development”.
