Nov. 17, 2022

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commision (NiDCOM), said that the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme would be opened to global audience after the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS).

Dabiri-Erewa said this in her remarks on Thursday at the ongoing NDIS event holding at the Conference Center of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

She noted that the summit, since its inception in 2018, had been living up to its expectations of attracting Diaspora investment into local businesses in Nigeria, with bounteous success stories.

According to her, “we have at this Summit, a major focus on Ondo State and the numerous investment opportunities it has to offer.

“The Federal Mortgage Bank’s National Housing Fund (NHF) Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, is going to be flagged off to a global audience soon after this event, both in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom.

“There is also the Eco Bank’s Rapid Transfer Application, which is meant to ease remittances from the Diaspora Community to Nigeria.

“It’s also available on our website for people to access and have cheaper and faster means of remittances to the country,” she said.

She added that the commission and its partners were grateful for the government commitment, adding that it goes to show that the administration recognises the enormous potentials of the Diaspora to Nigeria’s development and its resolution on tapping these potentials.

“I will like to commend Nigerians in Diaspora for their enormous contributions to the development of the nation, especially during the quest by the Federal Government to go far in repositioning the economy.

“There is a need to partner with the Diaspora in achieving these goals. This is why the Summit with this year’s theme “Optimising Investment Opportunities for National Development”, is very apt.

“It creates that avenue and platform of partnership between the government and the Diaspora in attracting investment into local business and enhancing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country.

“Beyond this, NDIS has over the years been expanding its participants’ network, showcasing their products and services to target audience such as the Diaspora investors, sponsors and government actors.

“Besides, it has been providing pro bono coaching and mentoring services to pitchers on how best to sell their business and attract investment.

“This goes to show that the Summit is not just keen on attracting FDI but ensures that the capacities of local businesses, most especially those that participate in the Summit, are significantly enhanced,” she said .

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day event which started on Nov. 15 would end on Thursday with a Gala Night.

The 2022 Summit, organised by NiDCOM in partnership with Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), has as its theme: “Optimising Investment Opportunities for National Development”. (NAN)