President Bola Tinubu’s administration is taking deliberate steps to strengthen ties with Nigerians abroad, creating pathways for investment and active participation in national development. This commitment was highlighted at the 2025 Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), held at the State House Conference Center in Abuja. The summit, themed “Fast-Tracking Regional and National Development by Mobilising Diaspora Investment,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for harnessing the skills, capital, and expertise of Nigerians worldwide.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that the diaspora forms a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda, alongside democracy, development, and demographics. He explained that the administration sees collaboration between citizens at home and abroad as essential for accelerating national prosperity.
Among initiatives cited was the Home and Abroad Housing Platform by NiDCOM, which provides a secure gateway for Nigerians overseas to invest in real estate. Shettima also highlighted partnerships with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to connect diaspora scientists, engineers, and innovators with opportunities at home. The proposed Diaspora Bond aims to give Nigerians abroad a direct stake in major national infrastructure projects, while reforms like the Non-Resident BVN and a competitive exchange rate have driven formal remittances, totaling an estimated 21 billion dollars in 2024.
The Vice President further noted that President Tinubu personally engages diaspora organisations across continents, ensuring that their perspectives influence national policies. He stressed the importance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as engines of economic growth, noting that while Nigeria hosts over 39 million MSMEs contributing more than half of GDP and employing 86 percent of the workforce, access to finance remains a major challenge. To address this, the administration has introduced a N75 billion MSME Intervention Fund, the FGN–ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme, National MSME Clinics, and non-repayable grants to outstanding enterprises.
Shettima also underlined the administration’s infrastructure-driven development approach, highlighting N4.2 trillion approved for roads and bridges, transformative corridors like the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and N1.3 trillion to settle legacy debts and expand rural solar mini-grids. Additionally, over 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables are being laid to strengthen the digital economy.
At the summit, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Malagi called on Nigerians to project the country positively abroad, noting achievements such as Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list, which has boosted investor confidence. He urged citizens to recognise that current reforms and investment-friendly policies are creating tangible opportunities for wealth creation and national growth.
The summit showcased the administration’s commitment to turning promises into measurable outcomes, ensuring that Nigerians at home and in the diaspora can actively contribute to the nation’s economic transformation.
