President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians living abroad to move beyond sending remittances for household support and instead channel their capital, skills and global networks into structured, long-term investments at home, arguing that the diaspora’s economic power should translate into a stronger voice in national development.
Delivering his message through Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila at the inaugural Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NIDEC) 2026 in Toronto, Tinubu said the Federal Government sees the diaspora as critical partners in rebuilding the economy and creating jobs. He described Nigerians abroad as proof of the global competitiveness of the Nigerian spirit and said their successes in different fields reflect the talent and determination of the country’s people.
The three-day conference, themed “Thrive Abroad, Invest in Nigeria,” was organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) under Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Tinubu commended Dabiri-Erewa for convening the event and said economic clout would give the diaspora greater influence on issues such as voting rights, adding: “Nigeria sees you. Nigeria values you. Nigeria needs you.”
Citing signs of economic recovery, Tinubu pointed to 3.89 per cent real GDP growth in Q1 2026, 3.29 per cent expansion in manufacturing, inflation moderating to 15.91 per cent and foreign reserves at $45.4 billion at end-2025. He noted IMF projections of 4.1 per cent growth for 2026 and said World Bank assessments had acknowledged progress in restoring macroeconomic stability and strengthening Nigeria’s external and fiscal positions.
To make investment easier, he highlighted reforms including a simplified tax architecture, record Bank of Industry disbursements of ₦636 billion in 2025, and continued public spending on roads, rail, ports, power, digital infrastructure, healthcare, housing and agricultural value chains. He also referenced diaspora-friendly financial instruments such as the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account, Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account and Non-Resident BVN as practical steps to deepen participation in Nigeria’s financial system.
Tinubu urged the diaspora to organise into professionally run investment clubs, sector-specific funds, co-investment vehicles and venture networks that pool capital, demand audited accounts, insist on good governance and conduct proper due diligence. He said government, in turn, must provide predictable rules, transparent project pipelines, efficient consular services and stronger protection from fraud.
While acknowledging the importance of remittances in paying school fees, medical bills and supporting small businesses, he said these flows should now be the baseline, not the ceiling, of diaspora engagement. He also appealed for unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that political competition should not undermine national stability.
Dabiri-Erewa said NIDEC was designed to convert diaspora goodwill into concrete investment and knowledge transfer, urging Nigerians abroad to view Nigeria not just as home but as a viable investment destination. The event drew state governors, federal ministers and senior officials alongside diaspora business leaders and professionals.