NDIS7 CLOSING CEREMONY: White House Advisor Pledges Stronger US-Nigeria Diaspora Partnership
Maryam Aminu
Today marked the close of the 7th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS7), in Abuja, concluding three days of dynamic sessions that reinforced the importance of diaspora engagement in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Speaking during a plenary session, Ms. Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Executive Director of President Joe Biden’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement (PAC-ADE), announced the Council’s commitment to supporting Nigerian-American partnerships that drive sustainable investment and development.
Ms. Laurent-Mantey highlighted PAC-ADE’s vision to expand the impact of the Nigerian diaspora beyond remittances, enabling them to participate in pooled investments that bolster small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger development projects aimed at creating stability and economic growth.
“Our goal is to empower Nigerians in the U.S. to make strategic investments that foster resilience and prosperity in Nigeria,” she said.
Emphasizing PAC-ADE’s mission to connect communities and amplify the African diaspora’s role in transformative change, she acknowledged NiDCOM’s support and praised the leadership of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who has been instrumental in strengthening Nigeria’s diaspora relations.
“With NiDCOM and Hon. Dabiri-Erewa’s guidance, PAC-ADE is laying the groundwork for a more resilient Nigeria,” Laurent-Mantey stated.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), expressed her gratitude to President Biden for appointing Ms. Laurent-Mantey, whose dedication and leadership are shaping a powerful future for African communities.
“We are deeply grateful for the vision and commitment you bring to the African diaspora. Your work enables us to envision a future where Nigeria’s progress is directly supported by those abroad,” she noted.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa shared her aspirations for a Diaspora Investment Fund, inviting the diaspora community to contribute to collaborative investments with the potential to drive significant impact.
“Imagine 1,000 Nigerians in the diaspora each contributing $100 to invest in the growth of their homeland it would be a game changer,” she remarked.
This model, she said, aligns closely with PAC-ADE’s mission to facilitate collective investment that sustains development.
The NiDCOM Chairman underscored the Commission’s commitment to partnerships that maximize the talents, resources, and aspirations of Nigerians worldwide, with the goal of creating economic resilience and fostering job opportunities at home.
“We look forward to further collaboration with PAC-ADE and the U.S. government to bring our shared goals of development to life,” Dabiri-Erewa added.
She also recognized prominent diaspora figures, such as Mr. Christopher Brooks, for their unwavering commitment to fostering investment opportunities that empower SMEs and stimulate Nigeria’s economy.
The summit, themed “Adapting Stability Through Diaspora Investment: Navigating the Path to Prosperity,” concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to harnessing diaspora resources for Nigeria’s development journey.
