THE NIGERIA DIASPORA AND INVESTING IN NIGERIA: MOTIVATORS & PERCEIVED INHIBITORS

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the motivating factors as well as the perceived inhibitors to the Nigeria diaspora investing in Nigeria. Two studies address (1) the motivation for the Nigeria diaspora to invest in their country of origin (2) the perceived factors inhibiting them. Not much is known about what motivates diaspora to invest in their country of origin or why investment intensity varies among diaspora communities. To this end, the relationship between the causal factors and Nigerian born diaspora investment interest is examined using Nielsen & Riddle (2007) investment motivation framework. Using this interdisciplinary approach, an individual level conceptual model of diaspora homeland investment is generated. The study shows that members of the Nigeria diaspora community do not invest in their homeland for financial reward. They invest for perceived emotional returns and this is positively moderated by the degree of their social embeddedness in their country of origin as well as in their country of residence. They also invest for perceived social rewards. This is also moderated by their social embeddedness. The second study examined the perceived inhibitors to diasporic investment using the Galetto conceptual framework (Galetto, 2011). According to Galletto, investment is contingent on four main proximate factors; a minimum amount of money remitted or saved; minimum level of local development; the presence of suitable investment opportunities and the existence of specific household arrangement. The study shows that the perceived inhibitors to diasporic investment are: poor physical infrastructure; weak financial system and political instability and risk and that the dominant inhibitor is political instability and risk. Collectively, these two studies examine why the Nigeria diaspora would want to invest in their homeland and what prevents them from doing so. They seek to identify ways to turn diaspora investment and entrepreneurship interest into meaningful investment in the country-of-origin. Understanding why the nascent Nigeria diaspora investor or entrepreneur invest in their homeland and the obstacles they face is an important first step to identifying ways that governments can attract diasporic investment and entrepreneurship through marketing and other promotional efforts. Finally, this research lays a foundation for a stream of future research, building on the findings and data generated in the process of addressing the research questions.