The Global Institute for Diversity and Change (GIDC) is set to host Africans in the diaspora at 2019 Nawo Economic and Cultural Development Summit in Lagos and Abuja between September 27-October 7, 2019 to commemorate the 400th year of the first enslaved Africans who were transported to the shores of Virginia, United States of America from Badagry on August 25, 1619
The organisers say the 10-day trip to Nigeria will give participants an opportunity to uncover America and Nigeria’s shared history, celebrate cultural diversity, explore tourist attractions across the country and culminate on October 4, 2019 at the Nawo Summit which will afford participants opportunities to build strategic relationships with industry and government leaders from both countries.
The summit, with the theme, Year of the Return: Investing in Our Future, will see participants attend private business development meetings and networking events with Nigerian professionals in government, finance, education, agribusiness, real estate, oil, media, arts/entertainment, and other fields.
According to the convener of the summit, Yewande Austin, the summit will promote Pan-Africanism, Africapitalism and showcase the cultural heritage of Nigeria to the investors as well as attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) for the economic development of Nigeria.
Austin further said that the historic summit and journey will reveal the past while developing innovative ways to invest in the future of Africa. In addition to forging partnerships with businesses in Nigeria, the participants at the summit will also meet stakeholders in Nigeria’s art and entertainment industry.
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She stated that Nigeria’s budding and enterprising entrepreneurs will not be left out of the summit. They would be given an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to the investors at the first annual Nawo Youth Social Entrepreneurship Competition (NYSEC). The young entrepreneurs with exciting and scalable business ideas will be given resources to scale up their businesses.
Among the speakers at the summit are Levar Stoney, the Mayor of Virginia, who is the youngest mayor in the United States; and Makola Abdullah, the President, Virginia State University, who is keen on exploring collaboration with Nigerian universities.
Highlighting the significance of the summit, Yewande Austin stated that “Virginia was the first and last stop for more than 100,000 enslaved Nigerians. 400 years later in 2019, Nigeria has become an important stakeholder in our global economy. I wanted to create a professional development trip that would build a long-divided bridge between America and Nigeria to foster healing and socio-economic growth for both countries.”
“Recognized as the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria’s rapid growth in oil production, telecommunications, agriculture and entertainment make it one of the most attractive international destinations for economic development.”
“In the Yoruba language, ‘nawo’ means invest. In a polarized world, it’s more important than ever to invest in our global community – and the first chapter of this story began in Africa.”
“Proceeds from the Nawo Economic and Cultural Development Summit will go into the development of Alheri Village – a sustainable community that I am developing in Abuja to rehabilitate and resettle Internally Displaced People (IDP),” Austin said.
