Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has thrown her weight behind the Ota Investment Summit and Trade Fair, seeking the support of Nigerians in Diaspora in the development initiatives at home.

The NIDCOM’s CEO, who spoke at the inaugural three-day Ota Investment Summit and Fair, held in Ota, Ogun State, billed to commence in August, is themed Industrial Revolution: Potential and Opportunities from Ota to the Rest of the World.

She said Nigerians in diaspora had roles to play in Nigeria’s expanding industrial sector.

Represented by Mr Dipo Odebowale, Head of NIDCOM’s Lagos Office, Dabiri-Erewa emphasised that ‘the true power lies in diaspora investment, knowledge transfer, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

She stated: “Imagine channelling diaspora capital into agro-processing plants, tech hubs, manufacturing clusters, logistics, and export-driven enterprises right here in Ota. This is not only possible, but also necessary for Nigeria’s next phase of industrialisation.

According to her, the summit complements NIDCOM’s ongoing engagements with Nigerians in the diaspora, encouraging them to invest back home and contribute to the nation’s growth.

The NIDCOM’s CEO added: “The Nigerian Diaspora is not just a community abroad. It is an economic force.”

Our diaspora contributes over $20 billion yearly through remittances alone, which is nearly six per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. But remittances are just the tip of the iceberg.”

In his remarks, the Olota of Ota, Adeyemi Obalanlege, commended Dabiri-Erewa, for her unwavering commitment to the welfare and active engagement of Nigerians living abroad. He lauded NIDCOM’s excellent track record in protecting diaspora interests and assured that the people of Ota would continue to mobilise efforts to sustain the city’s standing as a leading industrial hub for national economic viability.