President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of a high-powered government delegation, led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to Canada for the inaugural Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference.
The four-day conference is scheduled to hold in Toronto from August 12 to 15, 2026, with the Federal Government seeking to attract new investments and strengthen economic partnerships between Nigeria and its diaspora community.
Five state governors are part of the delegation. They are Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Also expected at the event are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in a statement issued on Friday, said senior officials from several federal institutions would also participate in the conference.
They include representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Revenue Service, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Nigeria Export Promotion Council and National Information Technology Development Agency.
The conference is themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad” and is expected to showcase investment opportunities in key sectors of the Nigerian economy while creating connections between investors, government officials and members of the Nigerian diaspora.
NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the high-level participation reflects the Federal Government’s determination to deepen Nigeria’s economic relationship with Canada.
She said the conference was designed to produce practical investment outcomes by connecting investors with credible opportunities across Nigeria.
The discussions are expected to focus on agriculture, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, healthcare and the digital economy.
Several Canadian officials are also expected to attend, including President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Shafqat Ali; Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Graham McGregor; Ontario lawmaker Deepak Anand; Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown; Councillor Rod Power; and Ontario Minister of Women and Economic Opportunities, Charmaine Williams.
NiDCOM is organising the conference in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja and other stakeholders.
The event is the first investment-focused forum organised by the Federal Government through NiDCOM with the specific aim of strengthening economic ties with Nigerians living abroad and encouraging greater diaspora participation in Nigeria’s economic development.
The government is also seeking to build on the significant contribution of Nigerians abroad by encouraging direct investments, business partnerships and collaborations capable of creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic growth.
