President Bola Tinubu has approved a high-level Federal Government delegation, led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to represent Nigeria at the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada.
The four-day conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” will hold from August 12 to 15 and is expected to bring together government officials, investors, business leaders and members of the Nigerian diaspora to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The delegation includes Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Also expected at the event are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Representatives from key government agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Revenue Service, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the National Information Technology Development Agency, will also participate.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) announced the development in a statement posted on its official X handle on Friday.
According to the statement, Canadian dignitaries expected at the conference include the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Shafqat Ali; Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Graham McGregor; Ontario lawmaker Deepak Anand; Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown; Councillor Rod Power; and Ontario’s Minister of Women and Economic Opportunities, Charmaine Williams.
NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the calibre of officials attending the conference reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and Canada through investment, trade and diaspora engagement.
She described the conference as more than a networking event, noting that it is designed as an outcome-driven investment platform that will connect international investors with investment-ready opportunities across critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy while deepening bilateral economic cooperation.
The conference is being organised by NiDCOM in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja and other stakeholders.
Discussions will focus on strategic sectors such as agriculture, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, healthcare and the digital economy.
The Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference is the first investment-focused forum organised by the Federal Government through NiDCOM to strengthen economic partnerships between Nigeria and its global diaspora.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest recipients of diaspora remittances, with the World Bank reporting annual inflows worth billions of dollars, highlighting the significant role of Nigerians abroad in supporting the country’s economy.
