From Washington to Lagos: Diaspora Business Leaders Chart Africa’s Future

T The Nigerians in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (NiDCC) has positioned itself as a driving force for Africa’s global competitiveness, following a high-powered conference held at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The gathering, themed “From D.C. to Lagos: Shaping the Future of Business,” provided a platform for policy alignment, diaspora investment commitments, and strategic partnerships ahead of NiDCC’s Grand Project Launch in Lagos this December.

Ambassador Samson Itegboje praised NiDCC’s convening power, while CEO Patience Ndidi Ofure Key underscored the Chamber’s mission: “Lagos is our stage; Africa is our canvas. The goal is simple: move from talk to traction.”

Among the initiatives unveiled were new financing guarantees for SMEs, programs to empower women entrepreneurs, talent pipelines for African youth, and a digital trade corridor to simplify cross-border commerce.

Experts including Karl Cureton and Lawrence Freeman urged diaspora-led strategies to shift Africa from reliance on aid to industrialization and infrastructure-led growth.