The Abia State Diaspora Commission is mobilizing indigenes living abroad to deploy their professional expertise, explore investment opportunities, and build strategic partnerships to accelerate sustainable development in the state. This initiative is part of a four-day Diaspora Global Homecoming scheduled for December 18 to 21, 2026. The program aims to strengthen ties between Abia and its diaspora community while creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, business partnerships, investment, and collaboration across critical sectors of the state's economy.
The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev. Dr. Ambassador Annie Onu, unveiled plans for the homecoming program. According to her, the gathering will enable Abians living abroad to assess development initiatives in their homeland, identify investment opportunities, and determine practical ways of contributing their skills, resources, and professional experience to the state's growth. Onu described the homecoming as an opportunity for diaspora indigenes to reconnect with their roots, witness developments in Abia, and support ongoing efforts to advance the state's development.
The program will provide opportunities for diaspora participants to interact with local entrepreneurs, organic farmers, and other business stakeholders, exchange ideas, and explore investment opportunities that could benefit the state. The engagements will expose participants to locally produced goods and services, allowing them to identify products with export potential and establish partnerships capable of expanding their access to international markets. Many Abians living abroad have acquired valuable professional qualifications, technical expertise, and business experience that could be harnessed to support development at home.
The Commission's head noted that the homecoming will provide a structured platform for connecting diaspora professionals with local institutions, businesses, and development stakeholders to translate their knowledge and resources into practical benefits for the state. The program is expected to facilitate interactions between diaspora investors and local content providers, particularly in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and other sectors where partnerships could stimulate economic activities and create employment opportunities.
In a related development, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc has announced that two of its subsidiaries are live with Google Pay on the day of its launch in Nigeria. Under the new arrangement, customers of Guaranty Trust Bank Limited can add their GTBank debit cards to Google Wallet and pay with Google Pay online, both locally and internationally. Simultaneously, businesses utilizing Squad, the payment gateway operated by GTCO's payments subsidiary, HabariPay, can now accept Google Pay at checkout.
With this integration, the group positions itself on both ends of the digital transaction chain, servicing the consumer initiating the payment as well as the merchant receiving the funds. For GTBank cardholders, the payment process requires adding an eligible debit card to Google Wallet once via the Android app or a Google Account. During online checkout, users select Google Pay and confirm the transaction without re-entering card details, expiry dates, or CVV codes.
Commenting on the launch, the Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO, Mr. Segun Agbaje, noted that the initiative addresses common transaction failures in e-commerce. The feature is usable across all platforms accepting Google Pay online, including subscription services, travel bookings, food delivery, utility bills, and digital services. The launch of Google Pay and the Abia State Diaspora Commission's global homecoming initiative are expected to drive economic growth, investment, and development in Nigeria.
Key points
- Abia State diaspora commission launches global homecoming initiative to mobilize indigenes abroad for sustainable development.
- Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc launches Google Pay for local and international payments.
- BUA Foods profit soars, though details are not provided.
