Abuja, Nigeria — Nigerian citizens living abroad invested an estimated ₦673 million (Six Hundred and Seventy-Three Million Naira) in local businesses through a government-backed initiative in 2024, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, announced the figure while urging both the diaspora and local residents to seize new investment opportunities, stressing that massive investment is crucial for Nigeria’s economic growth.
The announcement was made at a press conference on Friday ahead of the 2025 Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), scheduled for November 11–13 in Abuja, under the theme: “Fast Tracking Regional & National Development By Mobilising Diaspora Investment.”
Summit Becomes a ‘Catalyst for Enterprise’
Since its inception in 2018, the NDIS has become a “trusted platform” for fostering “direct, credible and impactful investments” from the Nigerian diaspora into the local economy, Dabiri-Erewa said.
She highlighted the success of the 2024 summit, which saw over 1,500 participants, including 236 investors, and resulted in 56 investment deals valued at the ₦673 million figure. The creative sector led the way with 39 deals, followed by strong results in infrastructure, real estate, agribusiness, and energy.
Dabiri-Erewa asserted that the NDIS has grown beyond a mere conference to become a “catalyst for enterprise and sustainable development,” aiding job creation and connecting Nigeria’s vast global talent pool to its national development agenda. She also noted that several state governments, including Ondo, Nasarawa, and Borno, have leveraged the Summit in previous years to attract crucial investors.
Aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda
President Bola Tinubu, who champions the economic diversification goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda, is slated to serve as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2025 event.
Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, Chairperson of the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), said the conference serves as a “vital bridge” to unlock the diaspora’s vast potential. She noted that this year’s theme aligns perfectly with the President’s agenda to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Organised by NiDCOM and NDSI, the Summit connects diaspora investors with local entrepreneurs across a wide range of key sectors, including Fintech, ICT, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Energy.
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