By Milton Tella – Ambassador Adamu I. Lamuwa the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs who was in London on 4th April 2024 to promote Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria described the diaspora Nigerians as a valuable asset and tasked them with helping to bring foreign direct investment to the country.
During the interactive session with UK prospective investors and a session of Nigerians living in the country, Ambassador Lamuwa enumerated the investment potentials in the areas of Agriculture, Mining, Oil & Gas, Infrastructure, Tourism, Nollywood, and Science & Technology.
He emphasised that the government has issued a presidential order to make the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, a one –stop-shop for potential investors for registration processes, which must be achieved within 48 -72 hours.
Ambassador Lamuwa was accompanied by Amb. Anthony John, Director Civil Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
Ambassador Cyprian Heen, the acting Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK, while welcoming the guests to the Tafida Hall of the Mission, shared his perspective on the economic potentials that are available in Nigeria with the prospective investors and Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Ambassador Heen said, “Nigeria is at a very critical junction in its economic development, with a strong focus on diversification and growth in key sectors such as agriculture and agro processing, infrastructure, renewable energy, digital economy and a host of others.
The objective of this gathering is to ensure and safeguard micro, small and medium enterprises thereby ramping up local productive sectors and ensure that innovations are encouraged among the youthful population in Nigeria, which is very vibrant.
This ambition is anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which rests on 8 pillars, ensuring food security, ending poverty, stimulating economic growth, improving human security, enhancing business environment and ensuring an equitable platform for business activities especially among corporate organisations. It is also anchored on deepening the rule of law and tackling corruption.
Our role at the Nigeria High Commission in the UK is to support and facilitate the growth of Nigeria businesses in the United Kingdom while at the same time working closely with UK businesses in Nigeria to succeed.
By fostering stronger ties between our two countries and promoting mutually beneficial partnership, we can drive economic growth, create jobs and foster innovations that will benefit both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
I encourage potential investors to engage with the High Commission London to explore the opportunities that Nigeria presents. Nigeria is an economy that is full of potential. Nigeria is one country globally that will give you the highest returns on whatever you invest in. I therefore encourage you to take the opportunity of the presence of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria to interact with him and key into those areas that you believe you can add value to Nigeria’s economic growth.”
In attendance were some British diplomats, Tim Morris former Ambassador to several African countries (Morocco, Mauritania, Congo, South Sudan) and Paul Arkwright, who was High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015 – 2018, all senior diplomats of the Nigeria High Commission London, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dokun Thompson, the Oloni of Eti-Oni, Osun State, Nigeria, Ayo Akinfe, Chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), Niyi Zacheus, Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Organisation in Europe (NIDEO South) and many others.
