Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called on Nigerians living abroad to return home with their expertise, experience and financial resources, urging them to move beyond remittances and play a direct role in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Governor Lawal made the appeal in Toronto, Canada, on the sidelines of the ongoing Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NiDEC), where he is leading Zamfara State’s delegation to the maiden Canada-Africa Investment Summit.
Speaking to members of the Nigerian diaspora ahead of the conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” Lawal said Nigerians had distinguished themselves globally in medicine, engineering, information technology and other professional fields, stressing that the country must tap into this pool of human capital to accelerate development.
The governor urged Nigerians abroad to consider investing directly in Nigeria and contributing their skills and experience to the growth of their communities.
According to him, his experience in both the private and public sectors has given him a clear understanding of the challenges facing businesses in Nigeria, as well as the opportunities available to investors.
Lawal also used the occasion to showcase Zamfara as a state with significant investment potential, urging investors not to be discouraged by its challenges but to focus on its vast opportunities.
He highlighted sectors including agribusiness, strategic minerals development, human capital development and digital innovation as areas capable of attracting significant investments and creating employment opportunities.
The governor assured investors that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was committed to creating a safe and conducive environment for businesses while protecting investments and ensuring attractive returns.
He said Zamfara’s participation at the conference was designed to attract not only financial capital but also technology, technical expertise and strategic partnerships capable of transforming the state’s economy.
The state government described the conference as “more than just a diplomatic event,” saying it represents a strategic economic mission to secure investment, technology transfer, development funding and technical partnerships.
The engagement comes against the backdrop of the recent unveiling of a $200 million lithium mining and processing plant in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara, a project expected to create at least 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The development, the state government said, reflects growing investor interest in Zamfara’s mineral resources and broader economic potential.
NiDEC, 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 will run until August 15, 2026.
The conference has brought together government officials, investors, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, development partners and Nigerian professionals from across the diaspora.
The Nigerian delegation is led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Interior, alongside governors from Anambra, Borno, Kaduna and Plateau states.
Senior officials from institutions including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and NITDA are also participating.
NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had said 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 growth.
Governor Lawal said such partnerships could help unlock new opportunities for Nigeria and strengthen the connection between Nigerians at home and abroad.
He therefore urged members of the diaspora to see Nigeria not merely as a destination for sending money to relatives, but as a country where their capital, knowledge, technology and global experience can generate businesses, jobs and lasting economic value.
With business-to-business matchmaking, investment meetings, strategic partnerships and proposed memoranda of understanding expected at the conference, stakeholders hope the engagement will translate diaspora resources into concrete investments across Nigeria.
For Zamfara, Governor Lawal is betting that the right combination of diaspora capital, expertise, technology and natural resources could help turn the state’s economic challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth.
