THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Nigerians from across Europe will converge on the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, on 9-11 November for the annual general meeting or AGM of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE).
The congress will deliberate on the state of the organisation and on issues important to the Nigerian Diaspora generally. Moreover, NIDOE members will discuss developments at home as they affect the political and socio-economic progress of the country.
According to Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, the chairman of NIDOE, the body is not unmindful of the current economic challenges facing Nigeria and a panel of Diaspora experts will discuss the relevant issues in Lisbon and make recommendations to government.
His Excellency Vice-President Yemi Osibajo or his representative will deliver the keynote address during the opening session of the summit.
Among high-ranking officials expected from Nigeria are Hajiya Aisha Abubakar (Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, (Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora) and Gabriel Aduda (Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government).
Other key personalities billed to attend the event are Her Excellency Vivian Okeke (Ambassador of Nigeria to Austria and Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna), Hon. Rita Orji (chairperson of the Committee on the Diaspora, Federal House of Representatives) and Barrister Bisi Adegbuyi (Postmaster-General of the Nigerian Postal Services), who will deliberate with the Diaspora on how to reposition the organisation.
The NIDO Housing Investment Summit will take place simultaneously with the organisation’s annual meeting in Lisbon. The event, which will be attended by real estate companies from Nigeria, international property investors and banks, among others, is intended to attract Diaspora investment into the real estate sector in Nigeria.
“The NIDO Housing Investment Summit will gather the full spectrum of Nigeria’s real estate sector and will assist companies to secure international investment for commercial real estate development and infrastructure projects,” Gbandi said.
He added that the summit is a veritable forum for state and municipal governments in Nigeria to seek partnership in the realisation of their infrastructure projects that will contribute to their urban development plans.
Among the real estate and infrastructure professionals who will descend on the Portuguese capital for the summit are Pastor Kayode Obembe (CEO, Kayode Obembe & Co Limited, Lagos), Pela Kennedy Kawhariebie (CEO, Citi Props Limited, Lagos), Odusola Babajide Oluwole (MD, Ogun State Property Investment Corporation), and Engr. Ajayi Sunday Olugbenga (Managing partner/CEO, Asonic Associates Limited, Abuja).
Other confirmed participants of the summit include Muhammadsaad Adeniyi Tinubu (CEO, Hudders Field Property Agency, Lagos), Prof. Charles Inyangete (MD/CEO, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company) and Alhaji Abdullahi Dauda (Vice President, Corporate Services, Platinum Vault Group, Abuja).
The housing summit is also a property buyer show as well, explained the NIDOE chief. “The event is the ideal platform for anyone looking to own and invest in property in Nigeria. The innovative exhibition layout is designed to walk buyers through the property buying process,” explained Gbandi.
On why the organisation is focussing on housing in its investment promotion drive, Gbandi said: “In good times and bad, investment in real estate has always proven a sound option.”
Femi Awoniyi
NIDO AGM & Housing Investment Summit
9 – 11 November 2017 | Lisbon, Portugal
Registration: http://www.nidoeurope.org/registration/
