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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has approved a high-level delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to represent Nigeria at the first Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference in Toronto, Canada.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) made the announcement in a statement on Friday.
The four-day conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” is scheduled to hold from August 12 to 15 and is targeted at attracting investment from Nigerians in the diaspora and strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and Canada.
The conference will focus on key sectors including agriculture, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and the digital economy.
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.
Other members of the delegation are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Representatives from key 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, are also expected at the event.
NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the level of government representation at the conference reflects Nigeria’s commitment to expanding economic cooperation with Canada.
“The calibre of officials attending the conference demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada through trade, investment and diaspora engagement,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa described the conference as more than a meeting, saying it is designed as an “outcome-driven investment platform” to connect global investors with investment opportunities in Nigeria.
Canadian officials expected at the event include President of the Treasury Board of Canada Shafqat Ali, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Graham McGregor, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, and other government representatives.
The event is being organised by NiDCOM in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, and other stakeholders.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest recipients of diaspora remittances, with billions of dollars sent into the country annually, according to the World Bank.
