Dabiri-Erewa Urges Diaspora Nigerians to Invest, Mentor Youths, Support SMEs

Dabiri-Erewa Urges Diaspora Nigerians to Invest, Mentor Youths, Support SMEs
HIghlights $21.9bn remittance inflows
Targets diaspora investments in manufacturing, tech, energy, healthcare

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians living abroad to move beyond sending remittances and channel their resources, expertise and global networks into structured investments capable of driving Nigeria’s economic transformation.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the call was made at the maiden Nigeria-Canada Diaspora Economic Conference in Toronto, organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) with the theme, “Thrive Abroad, Invest at Home.”

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The conference brought together the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors of Zamfara and Anambra states; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; members of the National Assembly; Canadian investors and Nigerians living in Canada.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the Nigerian diaspora as a largely untapped economic resource and urged Nigerians abroad to complement their success overseas with meaningful contributions to development at home.

In a statement issued by NiDCOM on Thursday, Dabiri-Erewa challenged participants to invest in at least one project in Nigeria, mentor a young Nigerian, partner with a small and medium-sized enterprise or support institutions such as hospitals, schools and communities.

She urged Nigerians in the diaspora to move from discussions to actual investments, stressing that the country remained open to business opportunities.

“Thrive abroad, invest at home,” she said, urging participants to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in Nigeria.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the Federal Government was not asking Nigerians abroad to invest merely because Nigeria was their home country, but because the country offered increasingly attractive business opportunities.

Stranded Nigerians Cleared, Depart South Africa - NiDCOM — NiDCOM

She said economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda were repositioning Nigeria from consumption to production, raw-material exports to value addition and import dependence to stronger domestic production and export competitiveness.

Oduwole disclosed that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, while the manufacturing sector recorded 3.29 per cent growth.

She added that capital importation rose to $10.37 billion, representing an increase of more than 83 per cent year-on-year.

According to the minister, the government is particularly seeking long-term investments in manufacturing, agro-processing, technology, logistics, energy, healthcare, infrastructure and export-oriented businesses.

She also encouraged Canadian investors to explore opportunities in Nigeria, particularly in manufacturing, agro-processing, energy, technology, healthcare, infrastructure, logistics and mineral processing.

Meanwhile, the Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Diaspora Affairs described Nigerians living abroad as one of the country’s greatest assets, citing their contributions through excellence, innovation, resilience and professional expertise.

Citing World Bank data, they said Nigerians abroad remitted $21.9 billion to the country, while Canada ranked fifth globally in total remittances but first in per-person contribution.

They said an estimated 412,000 Nigerians in Canada accounted for about 9 per cent of remittances, compared with 324,000 Nigerians in the United Kingdom contributing 12 per cent and 565,000 Nigerians in the United States contributing 14 per cent.

The lawmakers reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to developing legislation that would deepen diaspora engagement, protect Nigerians living abroad and improve the ease of doing business for diaspora investors.