Diaspora investors engaged directly with startup founders at the opening of the 8th Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) in Abuja, exploring scalable, impact-driven solutions that align with Nigeria’s national priorities in education and technology.
The interactions reinforced a shared commitment to deepen partnerships that position the Nigerian diaspora as a catalyst for innovation, investment and nation-building.
Organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in partnership with the Nigerian Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), the three-day summit, themed “Fast-Tracking Regional and National Development by Mobilising Diaspora Investment,” attracted more than a thousand in-person participants and a substantial virtual audience.
In her opening address, NDIS Coordinator Dr Badewa Adejugbe-Williams described the summit as “a bridge connecting ideas, people and opportunities.”
She noted that each edition of NDIS tells a story of progress, resilience and possibility, and that collaboration between Nigerians at home and abroad continues to yield extraordinary results.
Dr Adejugbe-Williams applauded Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, for her steadfast leadership in creating platforms that connect diaspora talent and capital to national development. “The success of this summit reflects what can happen when passion meets purpose,” she said. “The diaspora continues to prove that distance does not diminish patriotism; it strengthens it.”
Technology and education took centre stage at this year’s summit, with a high-level panel moderated by Ms Evelyn Dan Epelle, Managing Director and CEO of IGET. Diaspora innovators showcased cutting-edge solutions in fintech, ICT, logistics and e-learning—underscoring technology’s role as the foundation of Nigeria’s next growth phase.
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A parallel session on education and human capital development, led by Prof Onyishi Ernest Ike, explored strategies to improve learning access, quality and employability. Prof Ike noted that Nigeria’s youth remain its greatest asset and that investing in their development is essential to securing the nation’s future.
Organisers pledged to translate the summit’s robust dialogue and sector insights into concrete projects, partnerships and funding commitments in the coming months, reinforcing the momentum to harness diaspora expertise and investment for national development.
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