From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Ondo State Commissioner for Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations, Prince Adeboboye Ologbese, has disclosed that Ondo State is aiming to be among the top three most competitive States in Nigeria in terms of investment possibilities, rapid growth, and enhanced quality of life for its citizens.

This is even as he stated that developing the Ondo Deep Sea Port for export trade in the nation will not only stabilize the foreign exchange market but will also strengthen the naira and open up numerous employment opportunities for the young people in the entire Southwest region.

The Commissioner stated this at the ongoing three-day 5th Nigeria Diaspora Investment summit, tagged NDIS22 with the theme: “Optimizing investment opportunities for national development”.

This year’s Summit has Ondo State as a major focus and the numerous investment opportunities it has to offer.

He said the theme of the summit which is “Investment Opportunities in Ondo State” was deliberately coined in line with the vision and REDEEMED AGENDA of the present Administration of Rotimi Akeredolu and geared towards driving the key business potentials for socio-economic development, especially when technology is fast moving ahead of the nation’s crude oil as a means of revenue for the nation and the forex market is unstable.

According to him, the nation’s socio-economic development depends on partnerships between the public and private sectors, hence, the initiative aims to build those relationships while also boosting investment opportunities and encouraging synergy.

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Ologbese said: “Because of this, the administration of Ondo State established the Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations with the purpose of offering strategic advice and support to the government in fostering economic development and luring investors from home and abroad.

“It will interest you to know that proper engagement of our Diasporas will drive the economic growth of this country.

“I am also confident that investors and businesses will leave this summit with increased knowledge about the opportunities for investment in Ondo State with greater optimism for the future. As a government, we are looking forward to the resolution of this summit for implementation.”

Earlier, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said this year’s theme was apt because it created that avenue and platform of a partnership between the Government and the Diaspora in attracting investment into local business and thus enhancing Foreign Direct Investment in the country.

She noted that since its inception in 2018, NDIS has lived up to its expectations of attracting Diaspora investment into local businesses in Nigeria, with bounteous success stories.

“Time won’t permit us to speak on them, but we have at this Summit, a major focus on Ondo State and the numerous investment opportunities it has to offer, the Federal Mortgage Bank’s National Housing Fund (NHF) Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, which is going to be flagged off to a global audience soon after this event, both in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom. There is also the Eco Bank’s Rapid Transfer Application, which is meant to ease remittances from the Diaspora Community to Nigeria and is available on our website for people to access and have cheaper and faster means of remittances to the Country.

“Beyond this, NDIS has over the years been expanding its participants’ network, showcasing their products and services to target audiences such as the Diaspora investors, sponsors and government actors. Besides, it has been providing pro bono coaching and mentoring services to pitchers on how best to sell their business and attract investment. This goes to show that the Summit is not just keen on attracting foreign Direct Investment but ensures that the capacities of local businesses, most especially those that participate in the Summit, are significantly enhanced.”