Nigeria woos diaspora investors at Silicon Valley summit

By Folarin Kehinde

Nigeria has intensified efforts to attract diaspora investment, as Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, declared the country open for business at a high-level gathering in the United States.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at the pre-event dinner of the African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2026 held in Silicon Valley, Dabiri-Erewa assured Nigerian professionals and global investors that the country possesses vast opportunities across multiple sectors.

The dinner, which preceded the main summit hosted at Santa Clara University, brought together top African and international investors, innovators, and policymakers under the theme: “Bridging Africa & Silicon Valley: Shaping the Future of Innovation, Investment, and Inclusive Growth.”

In a press release by NIDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging the expertise, networks, and capital of its diaspora community to drive economic diversification and technological advancement.

She pointed to ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at improving the investment climate and strengthening diaspora participation.

According to her, the Federal Government is putting in place policies to create an enabling environment for sustainable investments, noting that Nigerians abroad remain critical partners in national development.

She commended the collaborative spirit of Nigerians in the United States and acknowledged the role of the African Diaspora Network, led by its founder Almaz Negash, for fostering impactful engagement between Africa and its global diaspora.

At a separate working lunch with Nigerian professionals, participants expressed readiness to partner with NiDCOM to contribute to Nigeria’s growth through innovation, investment, and knowledge transfer.

The events collectively underscored a shift from traditional remittances to structured, long-term investments, as stakeholders explored ways to deepen partnerships between Africa and the global technology ecosystem.

The summit, which attracted a diverse mix of leaders from Africa and the United States, provided a platform for dialogue on sustainable development and diaspora-driven economic transformation.