President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of a high-level Federal Government delegation, including six governors and key cabinet members, to Canada for the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference (NIDEC), in a strategic move aimed at attracting diaspora investments and strengthening economic partnerships with global stakeholders.
The delegation, led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will participate in the inaugural conference scheduled to hold in Toronto from August 12 to 15, 2026.
The initiative underscores the administration’s growing focus on harnessing the economic potential of Nigerians living abroad to drive investment, create jobs and accelerate economic growth at home.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
According to the statement, the conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” will bring together senior government officials, international investors, business leaders, financial institutions and members of the Nigerian diaspora to explore investment opportunities across key sectors of the economy.
Balogun disclosed that the Nigerian delegation will include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; as well as Governors Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, Charles Soludo of Anambra, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.
Also expected to participate are senior representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The broad representation, according to organisers, reflects the Federal Government’s coordinated approach to attracting foreign direct investment, improving the ease of doing business and facilitating cross-border trade.
On the Canadian side, several influential political and economic leaders are expected to attend the event, including President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Shafqat Ali; Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Graham McGregor; Ontario lawmaker Deepak Anand; Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown; Councillor Rod Power; and Ontario Minister of Women and Economic Opportunities, Charmaine Williams.
Quoting NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Balogun said the calibre of participants expected at the conference reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada through trade, investment and diaspora engagement.
Dabiri-Erewa described the gathering as more than a routine conference, saying it is designed as a results-oriented investment platform that will connect global investors with viable and investment-ready opportunities across Nigeria’s economy.
She noted that the initiative is expected to strengthen bilateral economic relations while showcasing Nigeria’s potential as a destination for long-term investments.
Organised by NiDCOM in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja and other national and international stakeholders, the conference will spotlight opportunities in agriculture, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, healthcare and the digital economy.
The Tinubu administration has increasingly positioned diaspora engagement as a key pillar of its economic strategy, recognising Nigerians abroad as a critical source of capital, innovation, expertise and remittances.
With Nigeria consistently ranking among Africa’s largest recipients of diaspora remittances, the government sees the inaugural NIDEC as an opportunity to channel those financial inflows into productive investments capable of accelerating industrialisation, boosting entrepreneurship and creating sustainable jobs.
Officials believe the conference could mark a significant step in transforming diaspora contributions from largely remittance-driven support into long-term investments that directly impact national development and economic growth.
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