The 4th Annual Nigeria Direct Diaspora Investment Summit kicked off in London with a cocktails and Networking event in London on Thursday 13th July.

The event attended by many Diasporans from all over the United Kingdom and from Europe was an avenue for many who would be attending the summit to network with and become familiarised with each other and some of the personalities who will be speaking at the event.

The NDDIS, the brainchild of Chief Bimbo Roberts Folayan who is also the former Chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK CANUK, was founded 4 years ago with the view to link Nigerians with direct investment and business creation opportunities in Nigeria. Speaking at the event, Chief Folayan said that Nigerians in the Diaspora annually send home and contribute indirectly to the Nigerian economy a sum in excess of N32BN through monies sent  for financial assistance to friends and family members, as contributions to Alumni Associations, or through funds paid into Nigerian bank and savings accounts.

He said that the aim of the NDDIS is to create avenues for moneyed Diasporans to invest in the Nigerian economy through private ventures on state or national levels. He explained that the NDDIS seeks to mobilise such individuals, disporans with finance, technology and technical skills that could boost the promotion and stimulation of enterprise and link them with other investors in Nigeria for business collaboration or to link Disaporans with serious and viable business ideas with investors in Nigeria.

He reiterated his desire for Diasporans to be more focused on the development of Nigeria’s socio-economic structure.

The theme of this year’s summit is “The N25BN Investment bridge: Diaspora Investment and Job Creation Summit and it has a line up of speakers such as representatives from Lagos, Oshun and Ondo state Governors – Governor Ambode, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Also speaking will be the Senior Special Presidential Adviser on Diaspora matters Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Present at the networking event were Chairman, Nigerian Senate Committee on Health – Prince Lanre Tejuoso, Iyalode Alaba Lawson – First female President of NACIMMA, Former Ogun State commissioner for Commerce and Industry Chief Doyinsola Ogunbiyi and Mr David Smith of The British-African Business Alliance.

Also present were the Publisher Trumpet newspapers – Omoba Femi Okutubo and the Chairman CANUK Dr Boma Douglas.

The summit continues on friday with an all day conference at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London