BusinessDay, Nigeria’s premier business daily, is collaborating with Heartlink Ventures Limited, an events managing firm, to organise a two-day investment forum that would showcase investment opportunities in various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
The event tagged, ‘Corporate Nigeria stakeholders & investors’ forum’, and scheduled to hold between July 29 and 30, 2013 at the United Nations Conference Centre and Hotels Marriots on Broad Way, New York, USA, has as theme ‘Harnessing investment windows to the most populous enterprising black nation’. It is expected to attract investors from around the globe especially Diaspora Nigerians longing to partner home based businessmen to grow the economy.
Kemi Otegbade, chief executive officer, Heartlink Group, in a discussion with BusinessDay to seal the deal, said the forum is a follow-up to the first staged in Nigeria in 2008.
“Sequel to a meeting with various business groups in the US when I travelled early this year, there was a consensus to have the forum this time staged in the USA. The fact is that there are a lot of successful Nigerians abroad who want to know more about their country. There are a number of them who wish to do business back home. There are some looking for people to partner with.
“During the visit, our team met and discussed with Professor Adebowale Adefuye, Nigerian ambassador to the US, in Washington. We discussed with him and he gave his endorsement to the corporate Nigeria stakeholders’ forum. So we have his endorsement of the event.”
According to Otegbade, the forum will x-ray various opportunities in the Nigerian economy inclusive banking, oil and gas, fashion, entertainment, real estate, film making, insurance, among others, and will also feature trade exhibitions, investment and franchising opportunity and networking.
“A lot of Nigerians in Diaspora want to buy properties here but they need to be sure they are dealing with the right kind of people. For corporate bodies which are into real estate, the forum provides that opportunity. Also based on the discussion our team had with them, it was clear that some of the Diaspora Nigerians even want to invest in farming in Nigeria. So the forum provides endless opportunities. Those were some of the issues we discussed.”
Speaking further, Otegbade, said, “We have gotten support from some individuals who have funded the process up to date. Also we have the support of Delta State government of which the governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, is going to be one of the guest speakers. Also, Abike-Dabiri Erewa, chairman, House of Representatives Committee of Diaspora Matters, will also grace the forum as another speaker in addition to Thomas Awagu, president, Institute of Directors (IoD), Nigeria.
