Global Nigerian forum of oil and gas business professionals partner NDDIS

ENERGY professionals under the auspices of the The Global Nigeria (TGN) forum have teamed up with the Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) to support this year's annual conference taking place in London between July 13 and 15.

Oil and Gas experts will take a stand at the summit to provide information to delegates about partnership and investment opportunities in the sector. The TGN is a response to an identified need for increased collaboration between local companies and Nigerian technical professionals in the Diaspora and has had several conferences in Europe.

Being organised for the fourth time, NDDIS 2017 is focusing on developing the government's plans to diversify the Nigerian economy and end the dependency on oil even as it encourages collaboration between Nigerians in the Diaspora and companies in Nigeria in all the sectors. It aims to tap into the potential of the diaspora as well as attract foreign direct investors, who will be linked up with the federal and Nigerian state governments.

Already, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has shown an interest in the summit and will be sending a delegation if he is unable to attend. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has confirmed his attendance as will, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, the chairman of the senate committee on health and Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the special assistant to President Buhari on diaspora affairs and the chair of the Diaspora Committee at the House of Representatives, Mrs Rita Orji.

At least one governor from each of the geopolitical zones in Nigeria, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the minister for solid minerals have been invited and many other public officials have also been invited. Most of them are expected to confirm their attendance in the coming days.

NDDIS chairman Chief Bimbo Roberts Folayan, said: "TGN is a professional body of oil and gas business experts with a lot of experience in the sector and we are delighted to have them on board. In order to get them more involved on the NDDIS project, Wilson Balogun, the head of NDDIS in Scotland has just been appointed the head of the oil and gas sector for NDDIS in Europe and the head of TGN, Dr Ebere Eberechukwu has been appointed head of business and industry relations.

"With the government looking to add value to the petroleum industry by branching into refining, petrochemicals and other forms of value addition, it is great that we now have experts in the field participating at NDDIS. TGN will be able to use its leverage to talk to potential investors interested in the Nigerian oil and gas sector."

David Smith, the chairman on the British African Business Alliance, said: "NDDIS is designed to attract both foreign direct investment and diaspora capital into Nigeria. With TGN, we should hopefully stimulate interest in the oil and gas sectors, which have a lot of potential for value-addition and job creation."

Taking place at the School of Oriental Studies (Soas) in central London on July 13 and 14, NDDIS has identified 250 existing diasporan businesses that will like to set up their models in Nigeria to provide employment. It will be followed by a summit dinner on Saturday 15th July and among those supporting the event are UK Trade & Investment, the Afford UK, Soas, the British African Business Alliance and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To register: Please visit: www.nddis.com

For more information contact:
Ene Ebong
Programme manager
07886 602096
enebong@googlemail.com

Wilson Balogun
Head oil and gas
07948 241725
wilson.balogun@bowaldsenergy.com

Ayo Akinfe
Publicity director
07866 164300
ayoakinfe@gmail.com