ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government is targeting increased foreign exchange inflows, job creation and investment in critical sectors through the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference (NIDEC) 2026 in Toronto, Canada, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has said.
Enikanolaiye said the conference would provide Nigerian states with an opportunity to directly engage investors and attract funding for projects in infrastructure, agriculture, technology and mining.
He disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday, ahead of his departure with the Federal Government delegation to the four-day conference.
According to him, the participation of five governors from Anambra, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau and Zamfara would strengthen sub-national investment deals and ensure that investment opportunities extend beyond Abuja.
The minister said the Federal Government would also use NIDEC 2026 to promote incentives for diaspora capital repatriation, export expansion and remittance-backed investment vehicles.
He noted that the inclusion of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Nigeria Revenue Service in the delegation would help facilitate investment and trade opportunities.
Enikanolaiye said the conference would also strengthen Nigeria-Canada trade relations, with the participation of senior Canadian officials and Ontario ministers expected to support new trade agreements, SME partnerships and increased market access for Nigerian products in North America.
He said technology and skills transfer would also feature prominently, with the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, participating to facilitate partnerships in digital innovation, fintech and IT capacity building.
The minister stressed that NIDEC 2026 was not designed as a diplomatic jamboree but as an outcome-driven platform for connecting investment-ready Nigerian projects with high-net-worth Nigerians in the diaspora.
“This administration does not travel for jamborees. We travel for results. Mr. President has mandated a high-powered delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, because NIDEC 2026 is a deal room for Nigeria’s growth,” he said.
Enikanolaiye noted that Nigeria received more than $20 billion in diaspora remittances last year, stressing that the government was seeking to convert the financial flows into equity investments, factories and businesses that would create jobs for Nigerians.
“NIDEC 2026 is economic diplomacy in action. Nigeria is open for business. And we are going to Toronto to close deals,” he said.
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The conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” is holding from Aug. 12 to Aug. 15, 2026, in Toronto, Canada.
It is organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa and the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.
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