NDIS Day 2: Ondo State, Diaspora’s Next Investment Hub
Dr Chris Brooks, Leader of the Brown Ventures Group, USA, in his keynote speech, “Prospects & Challenges of Investing Startups in Emerging Economies”, , is of the view that many Africans are oblivious of the rich economic potentials it has to fast track rapid investment opportunities embedded in the continent.
Dr Chris Brooks made the standpoint at Day 2 of the 5th National Diaspora Investment Summit in Abuja.
Dr Brooks explained that this phenomenon is as a result of the “identity bleaching syndrome”, which he voiced that Africans should partner to change the narrative of the African continent.
Focusing on Nigeria, Brooks stated that the country, being one with the most population in Africa, has the human and material resources to project Africa into a hub for opportunities and not a place for exploitation.
He listed trust, ethics, identity, knowledge-sharing , Afro-ethnic interdependency , as well as, promoting African ideas and products by main political and economic actors, as very vital elements to growing Africa to enviable heights.
With spotlight on Ondo State, the Ondo state government is assuring that having the Ondo Seaport, massive bitumen deposits among other major endowments, will serve as a viable , transport alternative for product exports and imports.
The Governor of Ondo State Mr Arakurin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN), represented by his Deputy Mr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, expressed his delight at the special focus on Ondo at the NDIS event.
According to him, this will serve as a platform to showcase what the state has to offer to the global stage.
According to Mr. Aiyedatiwa, the seaport, if fully completed will create job opportunities and boost revenue for Ondo state.
Also speaking, the MD, Ondo State Development Investment and Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr. Gbenga Badejo said that Ondo has a lot of business and investment opportunities.
He further stated that asides its unique economic potentials, the state is ranked eighth out of the 36 states, plus the FCT, on ease of doing business in Nigeria, and the most safest state in the Niger Delta region to invest in.
The ONDIPA MD called on all investors home and abroad to invest in the state, for the betterment of the state, Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
In the same vein, Hon Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, who is the Chief host, said the theme is very apt as this year’s summit focuses on the Diaspora, exploring investment opportunities at the local level in the country hence its direction on Ondo state.
The NIDCOM Boss pointed out that such interest will further shift direction from the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI).
She expressed optimism at the Summit’s efforts at raising young generations of entrepreneurs and proffering feasible business solutions in today’s national economy in Nigeria.
Dabiri-Erewa is also fully assured that this year’s event will be nothing short of its promise at promoting investment opportunities within Nigeria to the world.
