Chief Executive Officer of Winhomes Global Services Limited, Engr. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, has commended Vice President Kashim Shettima for his engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora. The commendation was made following her encounter with the Vice President on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Okengwu said the interaction provided an opportunity to discuss Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), diaspora participation in national development, and the challenges confronting Nigerians abroad who bring their capital, expertise, and business interests back home.
Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation to the UNGA on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where he participated in high-level engagements and met with members of the Nigerian diaspora. During the meeting, he urged them to contribute their investment, expertise, and networks to national development. Okengwu noted that the Vice President’s willingness to listen to the concerns of investors and engage them directly on issues affecting their confidence in the Nigerian business environment was noteworthy.
According to Okengwu, the conversation reinforced the importance of creating stronger institutional safeguards for Nigerians in the diaspora who invest their resources in the country. She emphasized that patriotism cannot replace investment protection, adding that investors should be able to trust the institutions responsible for protecting lawful investment. Okengwu stated that the Federal Government’s efforts to attract diaspora capital would have greater impact when investors could also have confidence that their legitimate interests would be protected after committing their resources.
The Winhomes CEO described her interaction with Shettima as significant, as it gave her an opportunity to communicate the human side of diaspora investment. She noted that behind investment figures are families, employees, businesses, and professionals who have chosen to commit their resources to Nigeria because of their belief in the country’s potential. Okengwu described the Vice President as attentive and receptive during their conversation, adding that his willingness to hear the concerns of investors was important in building confidence between government and the diaspora community.
Okengwu, however, said such engagements would have greater significance when they translated into policies and institutional reforms that improved the experience of investors. She also acknowledged the Federal Government’s development initiatives in the South-East, including the establishment of the South East Development Commission. Okengwu noted that the impact of such measures would ultimately be determined by their implementation and that residents of the region should be able to assess the benefits of government interventions through improved infrastructure, investment, employment opportunities, and stronger confidence in public institutions.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s investment drive, Okengwu said attracting capital was only one part of the process, stressing that retaining investor confidence after investments had been made was equally important. She said Nigeria could strengthen its investment reputation when investors could point to concrete experiences of institutional support and protection. Okengwu emphasized that the strongest advertisement Nigeria can give the international investment community is the testimony of an investor who can say: ‘I invested in Nigeria. The institutions worked. My rights were respected. My investment was protected. I would invest again.’
Okengwu called for continued collaboration among government, public institutions, citizens, and investors to build greater confidence in Nigeria’s investment environment. She added that Nigerians abroad remained willing to contribute to national development but needed greater assurance that their investments would receive institutional protection. Okengwu concluded that what Nigeria needs is a bridge of trust between government, institutions, citizens, and investors.
Key points
- The Winhomes CEO commended VP Shettima for his openness to dialogue with Nigerians in the diaspora.
- Okengwu emphasized the importance of creating stronger institutional safeguards for Nigerians in the diaspora who invest their resources in the country.
- The Winhomes CEO called for continued collaboration among government, public institutions, citizens, and investors to build greater confidence in Nigeria’s investment environment.
