President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of a high-powered Federal Government delegation, led by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference (NIDEC) scheduled to hold in Toronto, Canada.
The four-day investment summit, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” will take place from August 12 to 15, 2026, bringing together senior government officials, investors, business executives, members of the Nigerian diaspora and international stakeholders to deepen economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada.
The participation of a top-level Nigerian delegation underscores the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to positioning the Nigerian diaspora as a strategic driver of economic growth, foreign direct investment and international partnerships.
In a statement issued by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the calibre of officials attending the conference reflects President Tinubu’s determination to expand trade, investment and economic collaboration between Nigeria and Canada.
She described NIDEC as more than an investment conference, noting that it is designed to serve as a strategic platform for connecting global investors with viable business opportunities in Nigeria while strengthening bilateral economic relations between the two countries.
The Nigerian delegation comprises key members of the Federal Executive Council, state governors and heads of major economic institutions.
Among those expected at the conference are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the governors of Anambra, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau and Zamfara states—Prof. Charles Soludo, Prof. Babagana Zulum, Senator Uba Sani, Caleb Mutfwang and Dauda Lawal, respectively.
Other members of the delegation include Senator Ita Enang; representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Revenue Service; officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi; Executive Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni; and Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
The Canadian delegation is expected to feature senior government officials, including the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Hon. Shafqat Ali; Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Hon. Graham McGregor; Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament for Mississauga–Malton, Hon. Deepak Anand; Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown; Brampton Councillor Rod Power; and Ontario Minister of Women and Economic Opportunities, Hon. Charmaine Williams, among other dignitaries.
NIDEC is being organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja and other national and international stakeholders.
The conference is expected to showcase investment opportunities across key sectors of the Nigerian economy, including technology, manufacturing, trade, agriculture, infrastructure, energy and innovation, with the aim of attracting greater foreign investment and strengthening commercial ties.
With millions of Nigerians living and working abroad, the Federal Government has intensified efforts to harness diaspora capital, expertise and global networks as part of its broader strategy to accelerate economic transformation, stimulate investment and position Nigeria as a competitive destination for international business.
