Tunji-Ojo, Ali Pate, Ooni to speak at Ondo diaspora summit

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, and Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, have been selected to speak at the Ondo diaspora summit for sustainable local growth and development.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Bayo Ologbese, Ondo state commissioner for regional integration and diaspora relations, said Ali Pate, minister of health, is also expected to speak at the summit.

Ologbese said the summit will showcase opportunities in the state and encourage the diaspora community to “seize them”, particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, and infrastructure.

Other public officials slated to speak at the event include Ayodele Olawande, minister of state for youth development, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The summit which will be held virtually is slated for December 2, for participants in North and South America and December 9, for those in Europe and other regions.

The event is aimed at wooing Ondo indigenes across the globe to invest in various business opportunities in the state to drive sustained growth and development.

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, will deliver a keynote address at the summit, while Rinsola Abiola, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on citizenship and leadership, will anchor the event.

Ondo commissioners billed to participate in the summit include Wale Akinterinwa (finance), Razaq Obe (energy and mineral resources), and Bamidele Ademola-Olateju (information).

Others are Raimi Aminu (infrastructure, lands and housing), Banji Ajaka (health), and Gbenga Badejo, director-general of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA).

Private sector players to feature as panellists at the summit include Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, founding partner at Future Africa; Folajomi Adegbulugbe, director of business at RBD Limited and Joel Ogunsola, founder of Prunedge.

The summit is organised with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union Commission and routed through the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) Phase II programme led by Wale Edun, minister of finance, and is also supported by the office of the senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).