By Isaac Mission
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has described the 2026 Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference (NIDEC) as a strategic economic diplomacy initiative rather than a ceremonial foreign engagement.
Enikanolaiye said the conference, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, is designed to attract investment, create employment opportunities and increase foreign exchange inflows into Nigeria.
The minister made this known in Abuja while speaking with journalists ahead of his departure for the four-day conference alongside a Federal Government delegation.
Addressing concerns over the effectiveness of previous international engagements, Enikanolaiye said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was focused on measurable outcomes from its foreign engagements.
He said the government was attending NIDEC 2026 with the objective of securing concrete investment opportunities and strengthening Nigeria’s economic ties with the diaspora.
According to him, the conference aligns with President Tinubu’s realigned 4Ds Foreign Policy Agenda — Demography, Development, Democracy and Diaspora.
Nigeria-Canada Economic Relations
Enikanolaiye said NIDEC would provide an opportunity to deepen economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada, with senior Canadian officials, including Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali and ministers from Ontario, expected to participate.
Discussions at the conference are expected to cover trade agreements, partnerships for small and medium-sized enterprises and improved access for Nigerian products to the North American market.
Several Nigerian economic institutions will also participate, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
The minister said the delegation would promote opportunities for diaspora investment, export expansion and remittance-backed investment schemes aimed at boosting foreign exchange inflows and supporting job creation.
Governors to Present Investment Opportunities
Enikanolaiye disclosed that governors from Anambra, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau and Zamfara would participate in the conference.
He said their presence would enable state governments to engage directly with potential investors and present projects in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, technology and mining.
The minister added that the participation of NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa would strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to attract partnerships in digital innovation, fintech and information technology skills development.
He said such partnerships would complement the Federal Government’s broader digital economy and human capital development objectives.
Focus on Diaspora Capital
On diaspora engagement, Enikanolaiye said NIDEC was created to connect investment-ready Nigerian projects with Nigerians living abroad and address challenges faced by members of the diaspora seeking to invest in the country.
He noted that Nigeria received more than $20 billion in diaspora remittances in the previous year, stressing the need to channel more of those funds into productive investments.
According to him, the government wants diaspora capital to support businesses, factories, infrastructure and other ventures capable of generating employment and contributing to economic growth.
Enikanolaiye described NIDEC 2026 as an example of economic diplomacy focused on attracting capital and creating opportunities for Nigeria.
The four-day conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” is scheduled for August 12–15, 2026, in Toronto, Canada.
The event is being organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa and the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the conference is intended to create a platform for linking international capital with viable and investment-ready opportunities across Nigeria.
