President calls for diaspora investment in technology, healthcare, energy, agriculture and other key sectors.
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians living abroad to move beyond sending remittances home and take a more active role in investing in the country’s economy.
President Tinubu made the call on Friday while declaring open the three-day Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NIDEC) 2026 at the Apollo Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the president described Nigerians in the diaspora as a major asset to Nigeria’s economic development and urged them to channel their expertise and capital into productive investments.
He said remittances remained important to millions of Nigerian households but should serve as the foundation for deeper diaspora engagement rather than its limit.
President Tinubu encouraged Nigerians abroad to invest in agro-processing, healthcare, technology, energy, housing, logistics, mining, education, creative industries and export manufacturing.
He also urged diaspora investors to pool resources through professionally managed investment clubs, sector funds, co-investment vehicles and venture networks, with emphasis on proper governance, audited accounts and due diligence.
The president said Nigeria’s economic indicators showed signs of recovery, citing real GDP growth of 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, manufacturing growth of 3.29 per cent, inflation of 15.91 per cent and foreign reserves of $45.4 billion at the end of 2025.
He added that the International Monetary Fund had projected Nigeria’s economy to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2026, while the World Bank had acknowledged progress in restoring macroeconomic stability and sustaining growth.
President Tinubu said the Federal Government was also investing in infrastructure, including roads, rail, ports, power, digital connectivity, healthcare, housing and agricultural value chains, to create a more attractive investment environment.
He said the government would provide diaspora investors with predictable policies, transparent project pipelines, efficient consular services and stronger protection against fraud.
The president also highlighted financial instruments, including the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account, Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account and Non-Resident Bank Verification Number, as measures designed to facilitate diaspora participation in Nigeria’s financial system.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the conference provided an opportunity to deepen engagement with Nigerians abroad and harness their expertise for national development.
She urged Nigerians in the diaspora to view Nigeria not only as home but also as an investment destination.
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal also welcomed the conference, with both highlighting opportunities for attracting investment to their states.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olajumoke Oduwole, called for a shift from discussions to actual investment, stressing that the time to invest in Nigeria was now.