By CONSTANCE ATHEKAME
Executive Director, Nigeria Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) , Mr Bimbo Folayan, says investments by Nigerians in the Diaspora will assist in creating employment for youths in the country.
Folayan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that over 300,000 Nigerians were businessmen abroad and could set up branches in Nigeria to create jobs.
He said NDDIS was set up to address the questions being raised by the Diaspora and other foreign investors who desired to have businesses in Nigeria.
He said NDDIS was building bridges between investors in the Diaspora and businesses at home and to address issues on both sides.
“Many Nigerians business owners and innovators are keen in participating in the economic boom of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.
“They are keen to be part of the success story and to transfer technology, skills and other resources to their country of origin to help in the creation of jobs and opportunities,‘’ he said.
Folayan said over the past five years, NDDIS had established itself as the flagship event in the Diaspora investment promotion landscape.
He said since inception in June 2013, it had hosted several highly successful summits and events that had over 2000 delegates in attendance.
“The summits had been very successful, we have lot of Nigerians who relocated many businesses to Nigeria, it been a huge success, and they are getting more confidence in Nigeria through the summit.
“We cannot have about 15 million Diaspora, 15 million is like a legion, UK alone is about two million and they are not investing in their country.
“We have trained Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in 2013 and July last year, we invited Lagos, Ondo, Niger and Kaduna states.
“But this time around, we are focusing on the ICT sector because we felt this is where we can have an explosion as a lot of people are bringing in employment and investment into the country,’’ he said.
Folayan said those abroad were still waiting for the Diaspora Commission’s Bill to be passed, and appealed to the Federal Government to hasten the implementation of the process as this would facilitate a lot of things.