President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians in the diaspora to channel their capital, expertise and networks into productive investments in technology, energy, agriculture, healthcare, housing and other critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Tinubu made the call while declaring open the three-day Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NIDEC) 2026 at the Apollo Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada, with the theme, “Thrive Abroad, Invest in Nigeria.”
According to an official statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the President, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, described Nigerians in the diaspora as living proof that the Nigerian spirit could compete with the best in the world.
Tinubu urged Nigerians abroad to move beyond sending money home and begin building productive stakes in the Nigerian economy, stressing that remittances should become “the floor of diaspora engagement rather than its ceiling.”
He specifically called for diaspora investments in agro-processing, healthcare, technology, energy, housing, logistics, mining, education, creative industries and export manufacturing.
The President also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to move beyond scattered and personality-driven transactions by establishing professionally governed investment clubs, sector funds, co-investment vehicles and venture networks.
He advised prospective investors to pool capital, demand audited accounts, insist on proper governance and conduct due diligence with credible professional advisers.
Tinubu said the Federal Government was creating a more predictable investment environment through investments in roads, rail, ports, power, digital connectivity, healthcare, housing and agricultural value chains.
He cited real Gross Domestic Product growth of 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, manufacturing expansion of 3.29 per cent, inflation easing to 15.91 per cent and foreign reserves of $45.4 billion at the end of 2025 as indicators of improving economic conditions.
The President also noted 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 strengthening the country’s external and fiscal position.
He disclosed that the Bank of Industry recorded its highest annual financing volume in 2025, disbursing N636 billion to businesses across the country.
Tinubu said government owed Nigerians in the diaspora predictable rules, transparent project pipelines, efficient consular services and stronger protection from fraud.
He identified the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account, Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account and Non-Resident Bank Verification Number as practical measures to facilitate diaspora participation in Nigeria’s financial system.
“Nigeria sees you. Nigeria values you. Nigeria needs you,” the President told hundreds of Nigerians and other stakeholders gathered at the conference.
Earlier, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the conference provided an opportunity to deepen engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora by harnessing their expertise for national development and accelerated economic growth.
Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians abroad to see Nigeria not only as home but also as a destination for investment.
Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, commended the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying they provided an avenue for Nigeria to attract investment and compete for global capital.
Similarly, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, said the conference offered an opportunity for his administration to position the state to take advantage of emerging investment opportunities and attract direct investment.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olajumoke Oduwole, called for a shift from conversations about investment to actual investment, stressing that the time to invest in Nigeria was now.
The conference, organised by NiDCOM in collaboration with major national and international stakeholders, brought together investors, business leaders, Nigerians in the diaspora and government officials to explore opportunities for strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and its diaspora.
The event also featured a fireside chat by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while other government officials highlighted various policies and investment opportunities.
The Canadian delegation was led by the Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Hon. Graham McGregor.
The conference also featured panel discussions and pitching sessions involving multiple investors, with participants exploring practical opportunities for increased diaspora investment and economic partnerships with Nigeria.
