Gov Lawal Courts Diaspora Investment, Urges Nigerians Abroad to Bring Skills, Capital Home

TORONTO, Canada — Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has called on Nigerians living abroad to channel their expertise, experience and financial resources into the country, saying greater diaspora investment could help create jobs and accelerate economic development.

Lawal made the appeal in Toronto, Canada, while participating in the Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NiDEC) and the maiden Canada-Africa Investment Summit.

The governor, who is leading Zamfara’s delegation as part of a high-powered Nigerian government delegation, spoke to members of the Nigerian diaspora ahead of the conference themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad.”

He said Nigerians had distinguished themselves internationally in professions including medicine, engineering and information technology, arguing that the country needed to tap into this pool of expertise for national development.

Lawal urged Nigerians abroad to look beyond sending remittances and consider direct investments and skills transfer in their home communities.

He said his experience in both the private and public sectors had given him an understanding of the challenges confronting businesses in Nigeria as well as the opportunities available to investors.

The governor also used the engagement to highlight Zamfara’s investment potential, calling on investors to look beyond the challenges facing the state and focus on opportunities capable of generating economic growth.

He assured prospective investors that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to creating a secure and business-friendly environment capable of protecting investments and encouraging returns.

According to the governor, diaspora engagement could be particularly valuable in areas such as agribusiness, strategic minerals development, human capital development and digital innovation.

The Zamfara government described its participation in the conference as “more than just a diplomatic event,” stressing that the state was seeking investment, technology transfer, development financing and technical partnerships that could support its economic transformation.

The governor’s investment pitch comes against the backdrop of recent developments in Zamfara’s mining sector, including the unveiling of a $200 million lithium mining and processing plant in Zurmi Local Government Area.

The project is expected to generate at least 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and has been presented by the state government as evidence of increasing investor interest in Zamfara.

Lawal said attracting more investment remained critical to expanding economic opportunities and improving livelihoods, while urging Nigerians in the diaspora to play a more direct role in the process.

The Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference, organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa and the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, began on August 12 and is scheduled to run until August 15, 2026.

The conference has brought together government officials, investors, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, development partners and Nigerian professionals based abroad.

The Nigerian delegation is being led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with the participation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Interior.

Governors from Anambra, Borno, Kaduna and Plateau states are also part of the delegation, alongside senior officials from institutions including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Nigeria Export Promotion Council and NITDA.

NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had earlier explained that the conference was designed to shift diaspora engagement from consumption-driven remittances towards sustainable investments capable of creating jobs, transferring technology and supporting long-term economic development.

The presence of the high-level Nigerian delegation reflects the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen trade and investment relations with Canada and broaden opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the domestic economy.

For Zamfara, the governor’s participation provides an opportunity to showcase the state’s investment prospects and seek strategic partnerships in sectors with potential for job creation and economic diversification.

The conference is expected to facilitate business-to-business engagements, direct partnerships and the signing of memoranda of understanding aimed at turning diaspora resources into productive investments in Nigeria.

Lawal consequently renewed his appeal to Nigerians abroad to consider returning home, either permanently or through direct investment and partnerships, stressing that their contribution could help strengthen the economy and accelerate development across the country.