The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Friday commended the media engagement in amplifying the impacts of the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) to Nigerians and the world.

Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the commendation in Abuja at the world press conference to announce the 8th edition of the 2025 NDIS.

The summit, to be organised by NiDCOM and the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), is scheduled to be held from November 11 to 13.

The NiDCOM chairman said the summit has as its theme “Fast-Tracking Regional and National Development by Mobilising Diaspora Investment.”

She lauded the Nigerians abroad who were excelling in various fields such as education, business, healthcare, technology, sports, and the creative industries.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa added that their greatest impacts were not measured only by their achievements abroad but by how their skills, resources, and networks could be channelled back home to drive growth and development in every part of Nigeria.

According to her, this is precisely where the NDIS comes in to connect the home and the diaspora expertise to nation-building.

“We cannot but recognise and acknowledge the vital role of the media in amplifying the impact of NDIS. Through your coverage, success stories from the summit have reached and will continue to inspire Nigerians worldwide, strengthening the bridge between the diaspora and homeland,” she said.

The NiDCOM boss assured that the 2025 NDIS would be a transformative edition that offers meaningful networking and actionable investment opportunities.

She stressed that the summit has, since its inception in 2018, created a platform for diaspora investors to connect with local businesses.

“Diaspora investors are assured that their investments are shielded and their engagements are structured, credible, and aligned with Nigeria’s national development priorities,” she said.

She gave an account of last year’s summit, which demonstrated the significant momentum NDIS has built over the years, attracting over 1,500 participants both online and physically, including 236 investors.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said that other achievements included 1,197 business owners and 168 government officials.

According to her, 56 pitches were presented across eight key sectors, which highlighted the creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians.

She noted that the ideas were not just pitched; they attracted about 168 deals worth about N673 million.

According to her, these are just a few achievements the summit recorded.

Stating that President Bola Tinubu would be the special guest of honour, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said business leaders, diaspora investors, and creative icons would be present at the summit.

“For registration and further details, we encourage all interested participants to visit our website: www.ndisng.com,” she said.

Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, chairperson of NDSI, said the NDIS has made a significant impact with the help of the media since its inception.

She also noted that states like Borno, Nasarawa, and Ondo had participated in the past summits and reaped great benefits from them.

“At the 2021 Summit, the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) made a strong pitch, anchored on its vast opportunities in cocoa production (leading producer in the country),” Ms Adejugbe-Williams said.

She stated that the summit also supports the local economy, contributing over N500 million since its inception to service providers, creatives, and SMEs engaged around the event.

“This year, we will continue to spotlight sectors critical to Nigeria’s transformation: sectors such as finance and fintech, ICT, creative industries, sports and entertainment, agribusiness, healthcare, education, real estate and infrastructure, and manufacturing and energy,” she added.

(NAN)