The Executive Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Governor Dauda Lawal, Ph.D., has issued a passionate call to Nigerians living abroad, urging them to return home with their expertise, resources and investments, as his administration seeks to attract more capital, create jobs and accelerate economic development across the state and the country at large.
Governor Lawal made the declaration in Toronto, Canada, on the sidelines of the ongoing Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NiDEC), where he is leading Zamfara’s delegation as part of a high-powered Federal Government team to the maiden Canada-Africa Investment Summit. Speaking to members of the Nigerian diaspora community ahead of the conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad” the Governor emphasized that Nigerians have distinguished themselves globally in fields such as medicine, engineering and information technology and that the nation must harness this wealth of expertise to drive national development.
The Governor urged Nigerians abroad to go beyond remittances and contribute directly to the development of their communities by bringing home their skills, experience and financial resources. He noted that his background in both the private and public sectors gives him unique insight into the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Nigeria.
Governor Lawal has continued to position Zamfara as a state with significant investment opportunities, urging investors to look beyond its challenges and recognize its potential for growth. His appeal comes as the state government promotes initiatives aimed at improving the investment environment and expanding economic opportunities. The Governor assured potential investors that President Bola Tinubu is committed to creating a safe and conducive environment to protect investments and ensure returns. His participation at NiDEC is expected to provide a platform to showcase investment opportunities in Zamfara State and attract capital, technical expertise and strategic partnerships in sectors such as agribusiness, strategic minerals development, human capital development and digital innovation.
The state government views the conference as “more than just a diplomatic event,” but rather a strategic economic mission to attract investment, technology transfer, development funding and technical partnerships to drive the state’s economic transformation. This engagement follows the recent unveiling of a $200 million lithium mining and processing plant in Zamfara’s Zurmi Local Government Area, which is expected to create at least 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, a significant milestone demonstrating growing investor confidence in the state.
The Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference, organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa and the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, kicked off on August 12 and will run until August 15, 2026. The event has galvanized government officials, investors, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, development partners and Nigerian professionals in the diaspora.
The high-powered 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, as well as Governors from Anambra, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau states. Senior officials from key government agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Export Promotion Council, and NITDA, are also in attendance. NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had earlier stated that the conference was designed to move diaspora engagement beyond consumption-driven remittances towards sustainable investments capable of generating jobs, transferring technology and supporting long-term economic development. The calibre of the Nigerian delegation underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation with Canada.
Governor Lawal concluded by urging the diaspora community to consider returning home to invest directly, stating that such collaboration will help strengthen the economy and accelerate development across the country. The conference is also expected to feature business-to-business matchmaking, direct partnerships and the signing of memoranda of understanding, with the aim of facilitating concrete investment opportunities and agreements that will translate diaspora resources into productive investments at home.
