* Photo: Left to Right: The Convenor of the Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit, Prince Bimbo Roberts Folayan, The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan and Senator Lanre Tejuoso
The Nigeria Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) has held it’s 10th Anniversary Summit, on the 5th of October at The Holiday Inn, Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
Founded by Otunba Bimbo Roberts Folayan MBCS CITP and set up to encourage Nigerians in diaspora to come on board in creating a vibrant economic engagement in Nigeria, by constituting credible businesses that would help enhance the financial resources of Nigeria, The Nigeria Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) has over the years been impactful to people in Diaspora and to Nigerians at home.
The Theme for this year’s event was: ‘Renew Nigeria; The Nigerian Investment Challenge ’23. And in attendance at this great event were: The Head of Service of the Nigerian Civil service, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan. The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Special Duties RT Hon. Barr. Okike Valentine represented the new Governor, His Excellency Rt Hon Francis Nwifuru . Governor Zulum of Borno state was represented by Dr Nancy Brian Mbaya. Also present was the Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency, Ambassador Ishola Sarafa, Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa , the former British Ambassador and the Senior Trade Adviser on Africa in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr Tim Morris, and the Administrator/CEO, Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abdul-Ganiyu Obatoyinbo, as well as other Directors General and delegates from key government agencies in Nigeria.
Entrepreneurs and global companies comprising of real estate developers, healthcare experts, Educationists, cyber security experts, financial services providers, and research professionals from the diaspora gave presentations, promoting their businesses and social responsibility endeavours, amongst them were Belinda Ikazoboh – VP Emerging Market Power of Shell Energy Europe, Mr Dun Salami – Chairman/CEO Admiralty Homes Ltd, developers of Banana Island, the Mayor of Southwark – Councillor Michael Situ, Peter Walker – Vice President British Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, and Katrina Prentice – Co-Founder/Chairwoman of Zakhealth, to mention a few.
These speakers were very inspiring and had conversant knowledge of the services they provide and how it would help improve the standard of living of Nigerians. They also understood the essence of undertaking investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The Nigeria High Commissioner to London, Ambassador Ishola Sarafa gave a speech by which he encouraged the investors to invest in Nigeria and advised the diaspora to facilitate this economic incentive. He also clarified that the insecurities being broadcasted in the media happens mostly in remote areas, advising potential investors to ignore insecurity reports in the media but approach the Nigeria High Commission for direction and advice. He concluded that Nigeria is open for business. The Head of the Nigeria Civil Services Dr Folashade Yemi Esan added that, to ensure that the civil service provides a swift service to investors, they currently operate on a computerised system which allows the investors to communicate with any department online, and guaranteed that investors enquiries or applications will be received and dealt with online. She also advised that Investors should not go in blindly to invest but to approach government establishments to make their enquiries. Hon. Abike Dabiri also highlighted the significance of approaching the Diaspora commission to make enquires.
A panel session comprising of Nigeria Health Professionals was held at the event. Among those present to discuss and highlight the problems and the bureaucracies that affect the health system in Nigeria, and indicated possible solutions that would enable an efficient and robust health sector in NIgeria were Senator (Dr) Lanre Tejuoso, Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, the President of Nigeria Doctors in Diaspora in London – Dr Chris Agbo MANSAG, Dr Nnanna Igwe – Former Ohanaeze Chairman, and Dr Pamela Ajayi of Health Care Federation of Nigeria.
The founder of the Nigeria Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) Prince Bimbo Roberts Folayan expressed his appreciation by presenting awards to Dr Folashade Yemi –Esan, Hon. (Mrs) Abike Dabiri and Dr Lanre Tejuoso for the support they have demonstrated over the years to the organisation.
The event was very successful, leaving potential investors informed and confident to embark on the journey to invest in Nigeria, a country with abundant resources combined with extensive business potentials, where entrepreneurs can earn vast revenue from their investment and create successful business ventures that would improve the quality of living of Nigerians such as the inspiring rhetoric of the diaspora, Mr Dun Salami – Chairman/CEO Admiralty Home, developers of Banana Island, providing affordable homes in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) have been coordinating investment summits in the United Kingdom for 10 years and has helped facilitate and promote Nigeria as an investment hub for investors worldwide by presenting Nigeria as the appealing and promising economic epicentre of Africa. The summits have accomplished immerse success that have created jobs and provided goods and services brought about by investors.
