By Jennifer Omiloli
The first Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit kicked off Tuesday with the aim at unlocking economic opportunities in Nigeria to attract diaspora investment.
The event was put together at the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in collaboration with the Nigeria Diaspora Alumni Network (NIDAN) and Nigerian Investment Promotion commission (NIPC).
The three day economic summit with the theme: Activating Diaspora Investments for a Diversified Economy, is also to establish a platform where diaspora investors can interact with potential sponsors, partners and the government.
Welcoming participants, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri – Erewa and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the summit came after putting into consideration the invaluable contribution of thousands of Nigerians in diaspora.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe and his Power, Works and Housing counterpart, Babatunde Fashola identified several opportunities opened for Nigerians in diaspora in the critical areas of their respective ministries.
They harped that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has put in place machineries that would aid smooth incursions of investors into the economy either local or foreign.
The three day engagement will feature plenaries on Agriculture and Extractive, infrastructure and real estate, manufacturing, healthcare, waste management and energy development.
The sectors at the summit are healthcare, agricultural businesses, education, entertainment, hospitality and tourism, infrastructure and real estate, manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, waste management and environmental remediation.
Nigerians in Diaspora currently remits over N22 billion into the nation through formal channels, according to Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
