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As part of its commitment to growing Nigeria economy and attracting Foreign Direct Investment to the country, the Nigerian-American Business Forum (NABF) is set to hold a two-day business summit on Nigeria in the United States of America.
According to Afolabi Andu, chairman, NABF, who is also the president of Nigerian – British Business Forum, the event is part of extending the global reach of the group, focusing on strategic markets and partners to open up the business space of Nigeria for creditable investors and investments.
The summit is scheduled to hold from February 29 to March 1, 2020 at the city of Tampa on the theme; ‘Improving Nigeria Economy: Challenges and Opportunities’. It will be attended by a power delegation from the Nigerian government, which is expected to make a pitch for the country during the two-day summit.
Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is the keynote speaker. Other guests and speakers include; Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson/chief executive officer, Nigerian Diaspora Commission; Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, Oluseyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, Jimi Awosika, vice chairman, Troyka Holdings LLC, and John Momoh, chairman, Channels Media Group,.
Jane Castor, the Mayor of Tampa City, will also be in attendance while the chief host of the economic summit is Ken Shobola, president of NABF, who is based in Tampa Florida.
According to Andu, who is also expected to deliver a paper at the event, ‘‘The primary objective of this group is to foster a safer investment environment for entrepreneurial business in Nigeria from the Diaspora and the globe through interfacing of both Nigerian private and public sectors with the entrepreneurial and professional disciplines of the membership of NABF.
‘‘The Forum provides a platform where American based Nigerian professionals and business owners can effectively interact with NABF members and entities at the highest levels of government and the private sector for the mitigation of pitfalls and challenges in business execution in respective regions of Nigeria.’’
In addition to the daytime events, which feature a number of notable speakers, there will be the Best of Nigeria Expo, featuring exhibits from various local Nigerian businesses and private and public sector organisations, particularly federal agencies and state governments MDAs.
Also, a gala night, featuring Nigerian American Awards hosted by Andu will headline the event while networking and entertainment in Nigerian flavours of different kinds will be on display.
‘‘The relationships built within this forum are expected to translate into increased opportunities for inward investment in Nigeria and upward opportunity for its members into American sectors.
‘‘Members of the forum shall be able to rally their expertise and resources to help other members mitigate risk and foster safer investment strategies into high yield return sectors in Nigerian and American economies’’, Shobola said.
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