News Highlights:
- Fidelity Bank Plc hosted the Fidelity Diaspora Summit 2026, bringing Nigerians across the UK, US, Canada, and UAE together to unpack new tax policies and explore credible investment opportunities back home.
- Speakers, including Onyeali-Ikpe, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Bismarck Rewane, and Ndubuisi Ekekwe stressed the diaspora’s pivotal role in national development and urged informed, compliant investment for sustainable returns in Nigeria.
Positioning itself as a trusted bridge between Nigeria and its global citizens, tier-one lender Fidelity Bank Plc has convened Nigerians abroad for a high-level conversation on policy shifts and investment prospects back home, reinforcing its growing influence in diaspora banking.
The bank successfully hosted the Fidelity Diaspora Summit 2026, a global virtual forum aimed at helping Nigerians in the diaspora interpret changing regulations while identifying credible pathways for wealth creation in Nigeria.
Held on Saturday, 14 March 2026, the online gathering drew participants from major diaspora corridors, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.
In her welcome remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, underscored both the urgency of the discussion and the strategic importance of Nigerians abroad to the country’s economic future.
“Our theme today is, ‘Navigating the New Tax Policy and Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Nigeria’. This subject is timely, practical, and matters to every Nigerian in the diaspora who earns, saves, owns assets, or invests back home.
She further highlighted the outsized role diaspora Nigerians play beyond remittances, portraying them as global representatives of the nation’s capabilities and aspirations.
“It is no news that Nigerians living abroad are our strongest ambassadors. You do much more than remit funds; you carry our reputation, our enterprise, and our potential into boardrooms, hospitals, laboratories, studios, and technology hubs around the world. Many people describe the diaspora as Nigeria’s thirty-seventh state, and the description fits because of your scale and your impact.”
The summit, which followed a maiden edition held in 2021, featured topical presentations delivered by thought leaders across local and international markets.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri Erewa, said the role of the diaspora in national development cannot be overemphasised.
She noted that diaspora Nigerians contribute across multiple spheres through skills development, investments, intellectual property, and global exposure; and she commended Fidelity Bank for convening the platform.
In another session, the Group Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, shared insights on Nigeria’s macroeconomic outlook in a presentation titled, “2026 Economic Outlook and Economic Opportunities in Nigeria”.
Partner and Leader, Tax and Regulatory Service, PwC, Mr. Chijioke Uwaegbute, also provided clarity on the new tax act and its specific implications for Nigerians living abroad.
The second half of the webinar focused on investing in Nigeria and positioning for sustainable returns.
Chairman, Tekedia Capital, Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, reinforced the need for informed participation supported by credible partners and compliant pathways, as a foundation for diaspora investors seeking durable value across asset classes and sectors in Nigeria.
Tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Mr. Ike Eze, in a presentation titled, “The Nigeria Tech Playbook, Funding Trends and Exit Strategy,” also offered a market-grounded view of the technology investment landscape, and shared frameworks for approaching opportunity in Africa and Nigeria.
The two-hour session concluded with a panel discussion moderated by the event compere and Arise TV business news anchor, Mr. Rotus Oddiri.
In his closing remarks, the Executive Director and Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Stanley Amuchie, thanked participants and panelists for an engaging summit and restated the bank’s commitment to banking without borders.
He encouraged diaspora customers to explore Fidelity Bank diaspora solutions built for their realities, including diaspora accounts that support seamless cross-border banking through multi-currency options, secure authentication, dedicated support, and tools for payments and savings.
“As we round off, I encourage you to turn today’s insights into action. Ask the hard questions, seek clarity, do your due diligence, and choose partners that understand both your global context and the local terrain. Fidelity Bank is ready to be that partner,” urged Amuchie.
