Diaspora Investors Urged to Tap Nigeria’s Capital Market
By Pan Afric Reporters
Nigerians living abroad have been urged to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria’s capital market as a means of diversifying their portfolios, protecting their funds against inflationary pressures and contributing to the country’s economic growth.
The call was made during a panel discussion on capital market opportunities at the ninth Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) 2026 in Abuja, according to a press release issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The discussion, held under the theme, “Bridging the Trust Gap: Connecting Diaspora Capital with Credible Home-based Opportunities,” focused on investment security, financial literacy, investor protection and ways to deepen diaspora participation in Nigeria’s capital market.
Hajia Aisha Wanka, Regional Head of First Asset Management Limited, who represented the firm’s Executive Director, Mr Sola Popoola, identified investment security as one of the major concerns discouraging Nigerians abroad from investing at home.
She explained that asset management firms had a responsibility to guide clients towards informed investment decisions, stressing that investors must understand the risks associated with different investment options.
Wanka noted that investment risks vary according to an individual’s risk appetite, financial goals and investment horizon, urging prospective investors to seek professional guidance and understand the available risk-management measures before committing funds.
She also emphasised the importance of financial knowledge and compliance with the necessary requirements for opening investment accounts.
The session’s moderator, Mr Kachi Okezie, a legal and business consultant, called for increased financial education, public sensitisation and enlightenment to encourage wider participation in the capital market.
While acknowledging the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) for efforts to improve market structures and investor awareness, Okezie said more needed to be done to educate small businesses on how to access the capital market as a source of long-term financing.
He recalled that discussions at previous editions of the summit, particularly between 2022 and 2025, had identified crowdfunding as a viable channel for encouraging diaspora participation in the capital market.
Okezie also highlighted the need for improved investor onboarding processes and advisory services to make market participation more accessible to Nigerians living abroad.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), Mr Mobolaji Lewis, said the discussion had reinforced the importance of building investor confidence through financial education, transparency and access to credible investment opportunities.
He explained that one of the objectives of the engagement was to encourage Nigerians in the diaspora to look beyond traditional investment options such as real estate and explore opportunities in the country’s capital market.
Lewis appreciated participants, sponsors and partners for their support, expressing optimism that the second day of the summit would provide further engaging and enlightening discussions.
The panel discussion marked the conclusion of activities on the first day of the ninth NDIS, organised by NiDCOM in collaboration with NDSI to connect diaspora capital with credible investment opportunities in Nigeria.
