Tinubu appoints Gbaja to lead govs, Nigerian delegation for Canada investment conference
President Bola Tinubu has approved a high-powered federal delegation, including five governors, for the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference in Toronto, Canada.
The delegation will be led by Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, and includes Babagana Zulum of Borno and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra.
The other governors are Uba Sani of Kaduna, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.
The nomination was announced in a statement on Thursday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, head of media, public relations and protocols at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
Balogun said the conference, themed ‘Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad’, will hold from August 12 to August 15 in Toronto.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs; Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade and investment; and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, are also members of the delegation.
Representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) are also expected to participate.
Other participants include officials from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The conference is aimed at attracting diaspora investment and deepening economic ties between Nigeria and Canada, according to the statement.
Balogun said the event would connect global investors with “investment-ready” opportunities in high-impact sectors critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and long-term development.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman and chief executive officer of NiDCOM, said the high-level government participation demonstrates Tinubu’s commitment to promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada.
“The high-level Government delegations to the Conference showcases the President’s commitment in promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa said the conference would also serve as a platform for strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.
“This Conference is designed not only as a high-level outcome driven investment platform but will also serve as a shared commitment of both countries to strengthen bilateral economic relations,” she said.
The Canadian delegation is expected to include Shafqat Ali, president of the Treasury Board of Canada; Graham McGregor, Ontario minister of citizenship and multiculturalism; and Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, among other senior officials.
NiDCOM said the conference is being organised in collaboration with the Nigerian high commission in Ottawa, the Canadian high commission in Abuja and other national and stakeholders.
