By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
ABEOKUTA : A leading light in the nation’s real estate sector, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, will on Tuesday share his wealth of experience on sensitization and advocacy programme for promoting diaspora investment potentials in Ogun State and the rest of Southwest geopolitical zone.
The event being organised by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in collaboration with Gconsulting International is slated for January 21 at NECA House, Alausa Ikeja as a key note speaker, Ambassador Adeyemo will speak on the topic, ‘Success stories and Best Practices from Diaspora Investments in Real Estate.’
A formal invite dated January 15, personally signed by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and addressed to Adeyemo, the CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, also indicated that as a “leading figure in real estate sector in Nigeria,” the multiple awards winning properties entrepreneur would also speak to the event’s theme – ‘Sensitization and Advocacy for Promoting Diaspora Investment Potentials in Southwest Nigeria.’
The letter reads in part, “This is initiative organised by NiDCOM in collaboration with Gconsulting International Services Ltd. It seeks to highlight the vast opportunities in the Southwest region and foster greater diaspora engagement in strategic investments.
“As a leading figure in real estate sector in Nigeria, your insights and vision will set the tone for discussions aimed at unlocking the potential of diaspora investment in key sector particularly real estate sector.”
The Daily Crucible reports that the event is coming on the heels of the recent revelation that remittances from Nigerians abroad over the past five years have exceeded $90 billion.
The Daily Crucible further reports that Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of NIDCOM had during the 2024 budget performance and 2025 budget defence before the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Diaspora disclosed that Nigerians living overseas spent approximately ₦60 billion during their visits to Nigeria in December 2024 while their remittances in the last five years had also exceeded $9billion dollars.
Hon. Dabiri – Erewa said this very significant expenditure was a testament to the growing impact of diaspora on the Nigerian economy and lauded them for eagerness to invest back home towards nation – building.
“We have reached a stage where, in the last five years, we have shown that the diaspora is a powerful force and resources and we cannot ignore them.
“We have 17 million of them. And how much did this generate for the growth of the economy? Remittances alone in the last five years have been over $90 billion. This December, of course, you know, it is not less than N60 billion in what they spent coming to Nigeria. It could grow but it is just scratching the surface,” the NiDCOM chairman said.
