President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has encouraged Nigerians in the Diaspora to return home and invest in the country, emphasizing that the government is creating an enabling environment for such investments to thrive.
Speaking at the two-day National Diaspora Day event organized by the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in Abuja, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s potential for greatness, leveraging its natural and human resources both within and outside the country.
Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented President Tinubu at the event. He noted that the theme of this year’s event, “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” is pertinent to the challenges Nigeria faces.
According to him, Nigeria’s diaspora home remittances through official channels were marked at $21.9 billion in 2023, over four times the value of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
He added that the diaspora community is actively investing in various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, information and communication technology (ICT), housing and real estate, sports, transportation, oil and gas, among others.
To enhance engagement with Nigerians living abroad, NIDCOM has created a town hall meeting format where the President interacts with Nigerians during his official trips outside the country.
President Tinubu expressed his pleasure at the numerous achievements and trailblazing feats of Nigerians in the Diaspora, urging them to invest their economic, social, and intellectual expertise back home in Nigeria.
The event saw the participation of representatives of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, along with over 3,000 participants who attended both virtually and physically from across five continents.
