Shettima Calls on Nigerians in Diaspora to Invest in Nigeria’s Infrastructure

By: Michael Mike

Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to Nigerians in the Diaspora to invest in the nation’s infrastructure, small businesses, and human capital development.

The Vice President, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, made the appeal during the opening of the 8th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) in Abuja.

Shettima said the Tinubu administration was creating a business environment that would enable diaspora investments to thrive under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The three-day summit, themed, “Fast-Tracking Regional and National Development by Mobilising Diaspora Investment”, gathered an assemblage of government officials, investors, and entrepreneurs with the aim of mobilising diaspora capital for national growth.

Shettima added that the platform of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit aligns perfectly with Tinubu’s administration’s objectives of attracting investment, creating jobs, and building human capital.

He said: “To our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, I extend a heartfelt call: come home, not only physically but economically. Invest in our roads, our startups, and our people.”

He stressed that the administration’s focus on transparency, accountability, and policy consistency was meant to restore investor confidence, stating that: “We understand that investors, especially those in the diaspora, need assurance of stability, safety, and returns. This government is resolute in providing all three.”

Shettima added that the government’s reforms in the financial sector, particularly the unification of foreign exchange rates and the removal of fuel subsidies, were already yielding results that would, in time, strengthen the investment climate. “Difficult decisions are being made for sustainable growth. We are laying a foundation for a Nigeria that works — not just for today, but for generations to come,” he said.

The Vice President also disclosed that the administration was prioritising youth entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Expanded National MSME Clinics and Digital Innovation Hubs, aimed at supporting startups and fostering technology-driven growth, stating that: “We are building an economy where innovation thrives, where young Nigerians at home and abroad can transform ideas into industries,” he noted.

He also assured that security challenges were being addressed through intelligence-driven operations and regional collaboration, stating that “a secure nation is a prosperous nation, and every investment thrives best in peace.”

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said the diversification policy of the Tinubu administration had brought in over $1.3 billion in mining investments within a year.

He said over 3,000 inactive licenses had been revoked to clean up the sector and encourage credible investors, adding that new applicants must now show plans for local mineral processing before getting approvals.

The Minister explained that Nigeria’s vast mineral resources, including lithium, gold, and nickel, were now being repositioned for export and industrial use. “Our aim is to ensure that value addition happens within Nigeria, so that we export finished products, not raw materials,” Alake said.

He said the government was finalising a Solid Minerals Development Roadmap, which would create an end-to-end system for exploration, mining, and processing. He said partnerships with diaspora professionals and investors were welcome in building refineries, training institutions, and logistics infrastructure for the mining sector.

“Mining is the new oil,” Alake declared. “And we are determined to ensure it becomes a sustainable pillar of the Nigerian economy.”

In his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, urged Nigerians to promote a positive image of their country, noting that “no dollar will come into a country people speak ill of.”

He said Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list was proof of the administration’s credibility and the growing confidence of the international community. “It shows that reforms are working, and that Nigeria is now seen as a responsible, transparent partner in global trade,” he added.

Idris noted that image-building was not just the responsibility of government but a collective duty of all citizens, including those abroad. “Every Nigerian is an ambassador. The way we talk about our country affects how investors perceive us,” he said.

He also reaffirmed the government’s resolve to strengthen communication channels with the diaspora through structured public diplomacy and digital engagement. “We will continue to tell Nigeria’s success stories — not propaganda, but the real progress being achieved across sectors,” he assured.

On her part, the NiDCOM Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said Nigerians abroad remained one of the country’s greatest assets, contributing $25 billion in remittances in 2024, the highest in Africa.

She revealed that: “Our goal is to look beyond remittances and channel this capital, expertise, and goodwill into sustainable investments that create jobs and drive inclusive growth.”

Dabiri-Erewa explained that the Diaspora Investment Summit had become a catalyst for partnership between state governments, private investors, and the Nigerian diaspora.

She said: “Through this platform, several projects — from real estate to agriculture, renewable energy, and ICT — have received direct diaspora fundings,,” stressing that the Commission was developing a Diaspora Investment Trust Fund to pool resources for large-scale ventures, while also working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Bank of Nigeria to streamline remittance channels and protect investors.

She said: “We are committed to making every Nigerian abroad feel safe and proud to invest back home.”

She praised the resilience of Nigerians in the diaspora, describing them as “ambassadors of excellence” who continue to make global impact “from healthcare to technology and academia, Nigerians abroad have distinguished themselves, and we must harness that energy for national transformation.”

Shettima Calls on Nigerians in Diaspora to Invest in Nigeria’s Infrastructure

Adamawa, GPE open bid for 14 projects

Adamawa Government with Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has opened a bid for 14 projects to upgrade Mega Science Technical School, Gulak to College of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Studies (COTIES).

Speaking at the bid opening, in Yola, Hajiya Aisha Umar, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, said the government was committed to ensuring due process was followed when contracting projects.

“That’s why we are here today, to at least show the world that we are doing the right thing.

“I’m expecting that the right people will be awarded the contract; those that are here, and those that complied with the rules and regulations,” she said.

Umar said that 45 companies have currently bidded for 15 categories of the projects.

Umar assured that they would observe transparency in selecting those that would do the contract.

In his remarks, Mr Faruq Adamu, Procurement Officer, identified the 14 projects as the construction of electro-mechanical services and perimeter fencing of Hong and Lamurde Mega Science Schools.

The construction of four Block of 80-Room Hostels with Porter’s Lodge, Common Room and toilets each are among the projects.

Others are the Construction of one Block of 4-Bedroom Bungalow with One-Bedroom Boys’ Quarters, and one Block of 3-Bedroom semi-detached Bungalow for Rector and Deputy Residences in Gulak.

Adamu added that fencing of Hong and Lamurde as well as additional Electro-Mechanical Services were among the work to be done.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, Mr Adamu Umar, appreciated the state government for following due process and transparency.

He assured that, as professionals, they would abide by all the guidelines for a successful business

Adamawa, GPE open bid for 14 projects

Eliminating NTDs key to Gombe’s economic growth, better health outcomes – -Stakeholders

Some stakeholders in the health sector have called for more actions and investments as part of efforts to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Gombe State.

They stated that eliminating NTDs would result in significant economic benefits through increased productivity while reducing health risks amongst residents of the state.

They highlighted the benefits of an NTDs-free status for the State on Tuesday in Gombe, during a Media Dialogue on NTDs Elimination in Gombe State.

The meeting was organised by the Gombe State Government in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners.

Hajiya Hawau Abubakar, the NTDs North East Zonal Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said that “significant progress” had been made in the fight towards ending NTDs in Gombe State.

Abubakar said the commitment of the state government and support from the Federal Government and other development partners towards the elimination of NTDs was good for the health of citizens in the state.

She stressed that an NTDs-free status for Gombe would impact positively on the wellbeing of children and residents as well as the economic profile of the state.

“Eliminating NTDs will help improve social outcomes like education while eradicating NTDs-related obstacles that prevent children from growing and fulfilling their potential in life.

“These diseases affect the poor, so their elimination can significantly reduce poverty, improve overall health, and support progress on multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

According to her, NTDs like lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and trachoma can lead to permanent disfigurement, chronic pain, and blindness.

She stated that eliminating NTDs would help prevent the above consequences while preserving physical function and quality of life.

Mr Hilary Adie, the NTD National Consultant, UNICEF said eliminating NTDs would help improve on the wellbeing of children, stressing that for every adult affected by river blindness, a child is assigned to lead them, and “this would affect the child in every way.”
Adie said that severe disabilities and disfigurements associated with NTDs impose a significant burden on countries, limiting their citizens’ ability to reach their full potential.

“The impact of NTDs goes beyond health, deterring economic growth and resulting in billions of United States dollars in lost productivity annually,” he said.

“Eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) significantly reduces health risks by preventing severe illness, disability, and premature death, while also breaking the cycle of poverty and improving overall public health infrastructure and socioeconomic development.

“By reducing illness and improving cognitive development, NTD elimination leads to better school attendance and performance in children.

“In adults, it increases productivity and earning potential by reducing workdays lost to illness and disability.

On her part, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi said that Gombe State would gain a lot from eliminating NTDs in the state.

Rafique saidthat one of the ways of eliminating NTDs in the state was to attain open defecation free status for Gombe State, hence stressing the need for an integrated approach to ending NTDs.

She said that since NTDs were preventable, there should not be a reason for anyone to suffer from the disease in Gombe State and Nigeria.

She called for an integrated approach of using community-based social mobilisation to improve health outcomes by promoting better water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in the state.

The UNICEF official commended efforts of the government and all stakeholders while stressing the need for more efforts to eliminate NTDs because of its impact on children and society generally.

She urged residents of the state to complement efforts at eliminating the NTDs by “preventing themselves and their families from having contacts with flies and mosquitoes.”

While commending media roles in efforts to eliminate NTDs, She said journalists were “the main game changer” in the task towards ensuring more awareness that would result in behavioural change.

Mrs Maryam Umar, the Programme Manager of Amen Health Care and Empowerment Foundation stated that with the partnership of the state government and development partners, the state had recorded huge success in effort to end NTDs particularly onchocerciasis, (River blindness) Lymphatic filariasis, (Elephantiasis) and Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia ) which are the three most common NTDs in Gombe State.

Umar said that, “an NTD free Gombe is not just a health outcome, it is an economic imperative and a pathway to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),”she said.

Eliminating NTDs key to Gombe’s economic growth, better health outcomes – -Stakeholders