Foreign
PARTICIPANTS in the 2022 Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) have called for the optimisation of investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja reports that the participants made the call at their various pitches at the 5th NDIS which was organised by the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commision (NiDCOM).
The Summit which opened on Tuesday, Nov. 15, will end on Nov. 17 in Abuja.
In her remarks, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, represented by Dr. Sule Bassi, Secretary to the commission, said that a greater degree of recognition should be accorded to the Diaspora Community.
Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that the Diaspora community comprises of more than 17 million Nigerians, who had contributed more than US$20 billion in remittances to the economy in 2021.
She added 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).
She noted that the NDIS had over the years, served as a link between entrepreneurs and investors, both at home and abroad, in major business specialisations which had successfully given rise to job opportunities, economic growth and more taxable income to the Federal Government.
The NiDCOM boss said that the event is currently focused on the grassroots investment and sub-national levels because, “that is where the opportunities are for real time investments”.
She recalled that last year’s thematic focus was on Borno and Nassarawa States, while this year’s targets Ondo State and its plethora of viable businesses for investment.
Similarly, the Coordinator of the Investment Sunmit, Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, said that the summit for the fifth time running had birthed many success stories.
Adejugbe-Williams said that such stories were possible because of the robust business policies, especially the presidential initiative on ease of doing business in Nigeria.
She commended Mrs Dabiri-Erewa for her innumerable support and hopes for another productive engagement.
Also, Mr Bimbo Folayan, Founder, Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS), who joined virtually, said that the Summit is a laudable project which has jointly engaged Nigerians at home and abroad.
He added that the Diaspora had developed keen attachment to the development of their homeland, Nigeria.
Mr. Folayan added that trust should be a key factor in creating a conducive business environment.
Mr Haman Madu, Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), in his remarks, said that it was due to the diaspora direct investment initiative that the bank created the Diaspora Housing packages which was available for all.
He emphasised that trust and honesty were the twin investments portfolio needed to establish and sustain businesses as well as services by and for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
NAN reports that the summit is being held in partnership with the Nigerian Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI) and has the Theme is: “Optimising Investment Opportunities for National Development.”
NAN also reports that the annual hybrid investment summit has attracted Nigerians both locally and globally. (NAN)
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Tags: Abike Dabiri-Erewa Haman Madu NDIS NIDCOM Sule Bassi
