Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said Nigerians in the diaspora are not only supporting the growth of the economy through remittances, but also through foreign direct investments.
She said the Diaspora Day, the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit were some of the programmes the commission facilitates yearly to attract diaspora investments to support businesses and grow the economy.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke as the chairperson at the Event Industry Conference, held in Lagos, said these events created a platform for businesses and business owners to connect with potential diaspora investors.
“According to statistics, the events industry contributes conservatively to the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) of Nigeria annually approximately N100 billion and the industry is growly exponentially,” Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said.
She noted: “Imagine if you could identify the pain points in your industry, get a clear picture of how they limit the appeal and size of your industry, and then flipped these constraints, developed innovative solutions to create value which in turn gave your industry a competitive advantage which in the long run attracts investments.”
The former federal law maker said when you’re outside the box, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission is waiting right outside that box to encourage you with the support you need within her command.
“I challenge every professional here, today, rather than carry on with the norm, think divergently, think creatively,” she said.
Adefunke Kuyoro in her message said: “We not just empower event professionals alone but also to extend a hand of development through our CSR initiative to our communities.”
She said this is too great a mandate to be quelled by the challenges at the time and this is the reason TEIC5.0 has persevered for five editions due to the resilience and vision shown by the men and women of APPOEMN.”
The conference, which is the 10th anniversary, was tagged Globalisation- see outside the box, to think outside the box to show how the way members could develop not just local but international influence and how members will be helped in numerous ways to see in different dimension on how to develop their business.
Chairperson of the conference, TEIC5.0, Bose Abisagboola said that the conference will provide conducive atmosphere for the bonding experience and sharing of knowledge in a relaxed atmosphere. She said that it will enable event professionals maximise their unique skills with a view to grow together with amidst shift to go global with collaboration and networking as a game-changing strategy. The conference was a hybrid of virtual and in-person attendees.
Other speakers at the event were representatives from Access Bank, Bellanaija, media guru, Dele Momodu and Wakanow among others.
