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Delta’s information Commissioner, Mr. Charles Aniagwu and Dr. Jude Osakwe.

A move through which Deltans abroad will be organized to invest in the economy of the state through capital, intellectual, capacity and network inflow has been unveiled.

Unveiling the initiative today, Wednesday November 18, 2020, at a press conference in the conference hall of the Ministry of Information, Asaba, Dr. Jude Osakwe, chairman/ CEO, Delta Business Platform, and convener, Delta Business Diaspora Business Conference said that the event will focus on delivering implementable investment outcomes on a sustainable basis yearly, which is why relevant agencies of government woud be involved.

Announcing the inaugural Delta State Diasporal Business Conference coming up from 14th – 15th, December, 2020, said the goal is to use the platform annually to replicate for delta state the huge economic and technological contributions that the overseas Chinese and the Jewish Diaspora have made for their respective countries over the past decades. “The annual event is timed deliberately for December to enable delegates coming from abroad to combine it with the Christmas and New Year holidays,” Dr. Osakwe said.

He listed areas of sectoral concern to include agriculture and agribusiness, oil and gas service covering up, mid and down streams, light manufacturing, electricity and power generation, transport, ICT, property and real estate, and education, among others.

While saying that the conference would be an annual event, he said that it would work with the Delta State Government to liven the vision of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the betterment of all Deltans.

He added that the conference would not be restricted to a yearly meeting but would work closely with stakeholders such as the Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on International Affair, headed by Dr Genevieve Mordi.

The conference convener CEO explained that the SSA would be clearing house for Diaspora Deltans to engage with relevant arms of the state government from time to time, adding that a quarterly diaspora investment briefing would be rolled out in due course.

He disclosed that the conference had opened talks with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Diaspora Remittances Unit to straightened inflow of diaspora remittances in the various states and Delta in particular.

Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu advised Deltans in the Diaspora and those outside the shores of Delta State to help realise the aspiration of the state government to advance the prosperity of Deltans.

Aniagwu, who coordinated the briefing, said that coming of the conference was one of the collaborative efforts of the state government survive on investments from abroad.

He therefore urged other Deltans in the diaspora, in Nigeria and within the state to join in the efforts of the state government to make the prosperity for all Deltans agenda become more realistic.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on International Affairs, Dr Genevieve Mordi, expressed appreciation to the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, for lending his goodwill and support to the body in launching the inaugural edition of the event.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of the endorsement and seal of the Government of Delta State indicating government’s support to the initiative.