By Obinna Uballa
The Edo State Government says it is already reaping dividends from the recently concluded Edo State Global Investment Summit in Glasgow, Scotland which held from September 20 to 25, with firm commitments of over $250 million in new investments and stronger partnerships with diaspora leaders, international investors, and development agencies.
Governor Monday Okpebholo said the outcomes of the summit have validated his administration’s push for catalytic partnerships that link global capital to local impact.
“Partnerships are symbiotic; each partner gains, each contributes, and together we achieve far more than we could alone,” he noted at the end of the summit, stressing that Edo is now better positioned to attract resources that will accelerate infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods.
Among the biggest wins was the announcement of a $250 million investment commitment to Edo State through the Edo State Diaspora Agency (EDSDA) by Ambassador Kingsley Obasohan, Director-General of the European African Chamber of Commerce and Industries (EACCI). The fund is expected to drive enterprise growth and job creation, supporting projects such as the state’s future seaport and industrial hubs.
Dr. Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okor, Director-General of the EDSDA, said the outcome marked a turning point in leveraging the diaspora network for sustainable growth. “With the strength of our diaspora, the commitment of our partners, and the resilience of our people, Edo State stands as a beacon of progress, innovation, and prosperity,” she said.
The summit also strengthened linkages with global experts. Dr. H.C. Lady Astrid Arens, Senator for Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Business Practice with Germany’s Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA), underscored the importance of embedding sustainability and ethical practices in the state’s investment agenda. Hon. Hareter Babatunde Oralusi, Founder of the Nigerian Capital Development Fund (NCDF Group), pledged to mobilise capital to unlock the potential of local communities, a move aligned with the government’s rural development strategy.
Other diaspora leaders, including Blessing Ayogu, Adolor of Emu Kingdom and Chairperson of Conservative Friends of Africa Scotland; Chief Josephine Oboh-Macleod, drug educator and CEO of Touchzlife UK & Nigeria; and Humphrey Ebowemen of BB Accounting Solution Ltd, UK, also committed to ongoing collaboration to scale enterprise and social impact initiatives in Edo.
