The Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) in London has announced its next ‘face to face’ summit with the theme: “Computer Village” & Information Communication Technology (ICT) Summit.
At an online press conference, the founder of NDDIS, Otunba Bimbo Roberts Folayan announced that NDDIS had entered into collaboration with the ‘Computer Village – Market Management Board’. Together, we are in talks with:
- The Nigerian High Commission
- The Office of the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria,
- The Department of International Trade in UK and Lagos,
- NIDCOM – Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in Abuja
- The Ministry of Communications in Abuja
- The Governments of Lagos, Kano, FCT, Nasarawa and Ogun States.
The National Assembly committees on ICT and Telecommunications, Diaspora International Investors and Bankers UK based ICT Companies, TELCOS, IT Professionals and Exporters are being invited to this year’s Summit in London.
Nigeria’s Strength in London NDDIS are organising a world-class investment summit in London that will attract investment, business partnership and collaboration between experts in the UK and is the largest ICT market in Africa – The Computer Village in Lagos, Nigeria and the larger Nigerian ICT sector.
Also speaking at the event, the Chair of the NDDIS Steering Committee, David Smith, also Chairman of British African Business Alliance Ltd, stated that attracting investment into the ICT sector in Nigeria and especially into The Computer Village is expanding Africa’s Largest ICT Hub and helping to build capacity in the dynamic ICT industry in Nigeria.
David Smith explained that the initiative started during the time of Dr. Tafida as High Commissioner and is an opportunity to attract the Diaspora to invest in their country.
NDDIS – Stronger in Nigeria
In a related development, NDDIS has announced the appointment of Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, as the Nigerian Liaison Director to strengthen NDDIS operations in Nigeria. Otunba Ajiboye will mobilize participation of important stakeholders from Nigeria. He joins the 35-member committee of the Nigerian Diaspora experts.
According to the new Director, the continued growth of ICT is making a new case for investment and it has never been more crucial to build the capacity & sustainability of ICT in Nigeria to speed economic development.
He explained that he has written to several state governments and is getting the national assembly to show interest in the summit. Multi-tracked to Network, Conference, Deals, and Dinner! Theodora Ibekwe Oyebade: PR Manager, Doyin Ola, Media Manager, and Toyin Solaru – Balogun: Event Manager).
The event will kick off with an evening of networking, with a Cocktail and Launching at the Banquet Hall of the Nigerian High Commission on the 26th of August. It is expected to be addressed by the new Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafat Ishola, alongside the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Mrs Helen Grant (MP) and the Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
This will be followed, the next day, 27th August by the Main Summit, Exhibition and Deal Room Meetings. This multi-track summit will bring together a unique and international mix of large and medium financial, telco, e-commerce, computer accessories manufacturing and other types of companies.
The exhibition stands and deal rooms will run in parallel with the Summit providing delegates with the chance to get up-to-date information from companies and enable those in the Deal Room discussions to strike agreements in a B2B environment.
Several investors have been invited to sit in the ‘Deal Rooms,’ so as to engage with the Nigerian Government and other business leaders. High-profile government officials, Computer Accessories Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters, IT experts, and Investors, and other speakers will present investment and business opportunities to a large audience.
The event is expected to be rounded up with an exclusive evening of dinner and dancing at the 5-star Grand Hotel in London. The NDDIS was established to help Nigerians in Diaspora as well as other international business leaders and companies who are keen to expand their investment portfolios to Nigeria.
It also identifies potential sources of Finance, Technology, and Technical skills that could boost the promotion and stimulation of enterprise and the creation of jobs in wider Nigeria.
In the past, The NDDIS initiative has been described as the biggest gathering of Nigerian business leaders and the best-organized investment summit in the Diaspora.
NDDIS partners include UK Department for International Trade, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and work closely in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission, NIDCOM, Centre for African Studies, SOAS, AFFORD UK and British African Business Alliance as well as several other partners.
During question time, the organisers were asked why the summit is taking place in London and not in Nigeria. The founder explained that it will be very difficult to mobilise investors to visit Nigeria to meet Nigeria.
On issues of security, the organisers explained that ‘Nigeria is our home and nothing will stop us from attracting investment into our country in spite of the perceived problems because that’s where our families live.
At a previous meeting of the organisation, the Trade and Investment Minister of the Nigerian High Commission, Mr. ludare Folowosele, expressed his happiness about this new initiative, which he says will be a stimulant for the economy of Nigeria.
“We believe this summit will be very beneficial to the ICT sector in Nigeria and will be a boost to the Nigerian economy. As a mission, we will continue to partner with the NDDIS to attract investments into Nigeria.”