Renewed Hope Global engagement seeks to turn Nigeria-Canada relations from dialogue into investment, digital innovation and diaspora-led economic partnerships

TORONTO, CANADA — Nigeria has taken its economic transformation message directly to Canadian investors, technology leaders and its diaspora community, as the 8th Edition of the Renewed Hope Global Tour concluded in Toronto with a high-level Canada-Africa Summit focused on digital rails, inclusive growth, investment and economic cooperation.

Held on Monday, 10 August 2026, at the Ontario Investment & Trade Centre, Toronto, the summit brought together government representatives, diplomats, investors, technology experts, entrepreneurs and diaspora leaders. It was organised by the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), Renewed Hope Global (RHG), Africa Sixth Region Global (AU6RG), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The Toronto edition combined energy and technology presentations with executive networking, exhibitions, B2B and B2G investment meetings, government dialogue, partnership engagements and a Nigeria-Canada cultural declaration.

Governor Dauda

Distinguished participants included H.E. Dr Dauda Lawal, Executive Governor of Zamfara State; H.E. Senator Uba Sani, Executive Governor of Kaduna State, represented by Dr Audu Maikori; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Dr Muna Abdi; Ambassador Abba Zanna-Kawu, Acting High Commissioner and Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa; Dr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General/CEO of NITDA; and Dr Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Special Adviser to President Tinubu.

The VVIPs included Ambassador J.K. Adebola, Dr Chris Onumonu, Hon. Tolu Oluwatuyi Esq., Honourable Evan Solomon, Honourable Graham McGregor, Professor Isaac Isatong, Amb. Afolabi Oke, Dr Macauley Kalu, Mr Efosa Obano, Mr Sunil Sharma, Mr Amoye Henry, Dr Adeola Adeleye-Fasubaa, Dr Steven Zeng and Prince Ade Omole, alongside other Nigerian, Canadian, African and international stakeholders.

Special appreciation was extended to Hajia Hadiya Lawal for her logistical support.

The US$1 Trillion Ambition

A major presentation by Governor Dauda Lawal and Dr Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion in the Office of the Vice President, focused on “Digital Rails, Financial Inclusion and Nigeria’s Journey to a USD 1 Trillion Economy.”

Dr Zauro said the summit demonstrated “the enormous potential of connecting Nigeria’s digital transformation and financial inclusion agenda with international capital, technology, talent and diaspora networks.”

He stressed that achieving the US$1 trillion ambition would require stronger government-private sector collaboration, accelerated digital transformation, wider financial inclusion and effective mobilisation of Nigerian talent and capital around the world.

That message places the diaspora at the centre of Nigeria’s economic strategy — not simply as remittance providers, but as investors, technology partners, professionals, entrepreneurs and gateways to international markets.

Why Canada Matters

The summit comes as Nigeria-Canada economic relations continue to develop. Canadian government figures show bilateral merchandise trade reached C$2.9 billion in 2024, while Canadian direct investment in Nigeria stood at C$32 million and portfolio investment at C$590 million.

The opportunity is therefore significant: Canada already has commercial interests in Nigeria, but the investment relationship has considerable room to grow.

For Nigeria, its diaspora in Canada can provide an important bridge — connecting Canadian capital, technology, expertise and markets with Nigerian opportunities.

The United Kingdom provides an interesting comparison.

UK-Nigeria trade reached £7.6 billion in the four quarters to December 2025, demonstrating the scale of an already mature bilateral economic relationship.

Britain and Nigeria have also established the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), creating a structured framework around trade, investment, services, innovation, digital trade and economic opportunities.

The lesson for Canada is straightforward: successful summits should ultimately produce a continuing investment pipeline, measurable projects and stronger institutional relationships.

Toronto can therefore become more than an annual gathering if Nigeria converts relationships established there into funded projects, technology transfers, exports, jobs and long-term investment.

Diaspora: More Than Remittances

The Decade of Return and Diaspora panel, featuring Dr Macauley Kalu, Mr Efosa Obano, Mr Sunil Sharma, Mr Amoye Henry and Dr Steven Zeng, with Dr Steven Araba as moderator, examined the mobilisation of diaspora capital, technology, talent and trade for Africa’s economic renaissance.

The discussions focused on investment, innovation and market access while highlighting Africa’s growing importance as a strategic investment partner for Canada.

For Nigeria, this represents a broader opportunity: diaspora-backed businesses, venture capital, technology transfer, professional exchanges, export partnerships and Canadian market access can all become components of a more sophisticated diaspora economic strategy.

Women and Digital Inclusion

The summit also featured the #SheIsIncluded session on women’s economic empowerment through digital finance, innovation and entrepreneurship, followed by an interactive town hall featuring audience questions and digital polling.

Ambassador Afolabi Oke moderated the summit and led the concluding segment on partnership announcements, MoU signings and investment commitments, reinforcing the organisers’ emphasis on practical outcomes.

The formal proceedings concluded with closing remarks by High Chief (Dr) Chris Onumonu, who commended the Canadian authorities, Nigerian representatives, speakers, investors, technology leaders, diaspora organisations, partners and participants for their contributions to the success of the Toronto edition.

A Nigeria-Canada cultural reception followed, featuring business networking, investor introductions, media interviews and exhibitions, alongside an off-stage fireside conversation involving senior stakeholders.

The Toronto engagement follows previous Renewed Hope Global engagements in Abuja, New York, London, Dubai, Zurich, Windsor and Cotonou, marking another step in its international economic engagement programme.

Its real success, however, will be determined beyond the conference room.

Will investment commitments become funded projects? Will Nigerian companies gain greater access to Canadian markets? Can Canadian technology and capital reach Nigerian enterprises? And can Nigerians in Canada participate in national development as investors, innovators and partners rather than simply as sources of remittances?

These are the measures that will ultimately determine the value of the Toronto summit.

For Renewed Hope Global, the focus now shifts from conversations to implementation, with the relationships and opportunities established in Toronto expected to support deeper Nigeria-Canada partnerships.

As Hon. Tosin Olayinka, LL.B (Hons), B.L, LL.M (London), Programme Director, Renewed Hope Global, closes the 8th edition, Toronto leaves Nigeria with a powerful proposition:

The Nigerian diaspora is not outside Nigeria’s economy. Properly connected, it can become one of the country’s most valuable global economic assets.