Diaspora investment key to Ondo’s economic rebirth, says Dabiri-Erewa
By Julius Alabi, Akure
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has urged Nigerians at home and abroad to embrace a shared vision of economic transformation, stressing that repositioning critical sectors of the economy demands collective commitment and strategic collaboration.
Speaking at the Ondo State Investment Summit 2026 in Akure, she underscored the pivotal role of the diaspora in driving sustainable development, calling on Nigerians overseas to see their homeland not just as a place of origin, but as a viable destination for investment and industrial growth.
“Investing in your homeland is not just a patriotic act; it is an economic imperative,” she said, noting that the right policy frameworks and government protocols are already in place to support both local and foreign investors.
Dabiri-Erewa further charged stakeholders to leverage existing initiatives designed to unlock economic potential, emphasising that diaspora remittances must evolve beyond consumption into productive ventures capable of generating jobs, building industries and strengthening the economy.
Her remarks came against the backdrop of renewed investment drive by the Ondo State Government, as Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa declared the state open to global partnerships, industry and innovation.
At the summit, the government signed key Memoranda of Understanding, including a landmark agreement for the development of a Deep Sea Port under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, with the state holding a 12.5 per cent equity stake.
Another major deal involved a $4 billion petrochemical fertiliser plant project to be sited in the southern senatorial district, signalling a shift towards large-scale industrialisation.
Governor Aiyedatiwa described the initiatives as part of a broader economic transition from a consumption-driven model to a production-based economy anchored on private sector leadership, regulatory clarity and policy stability.
“Investors do not go where there is potential alone; they go where there is structure, certainty and political will, and Ondo State offers all three,” he said.
He maintained that the summit was designed to deliver measurable outcomes rather than ceremonial declarations, assuring participants that investment commitments would be tracked, with tangible results expected before the next edition.
The governor highlighted the state’s comparative advantages, including its expansive Atlantic coastline, vast deposits of bitumen and solid minerals, strong agricultural base and strategic location linking several states.
Central to the state’s industrial vision is the proposed Ondo Deep Sea Port and the adjoining Sunshine Industrial City Free Trade Zone, conceived as an integrated ecosystem for manufacturing, logistics, maritime services and export-oriented industries.
Also lending his voice, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, urged the governor to remain focused and undeterred by criticism, noting that enduring achievements would ultimately define his legacy.
Other speakers at the summit, including economic experts and industry leaders, echoed the need for deliberate investments, policy consistency and local reinvestment of capital as pathways to sustainable growth.
At the close of deliberations, stakeholders agreed that Ondo State’s economic future lies in mobilising investment, deepening industrial capacity and creating jobs, rather than relying on statutory allocations.
Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; First Lady, Mrs Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers; security chiefs and private sector leaders, among others.
