By Cynthia Alo

Hundreds of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom are looking to shift their focus toward home-grown agriculture to help tackle food security and drive national growth.

The move will take center stage on July 4, 2026, as Leeds hosts the Nigeria–UK Green Gold Forum, a gathering aimed at pulling diaspora investments into commercial farming, agritourism and agri-real estate.

The event, scheduled to hold at the BAME Health and Wellbeing Hub in Leeds, is organised by Xtralarge Farms and Resorts in partnership with the Nigerian Community Leeds (NCL) and backed by Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, the former Lord Mayor of Leeds.

The initiative targets a structured path for Nigerians abroad to move beyond basic family remittances and invest directly in production-level agriculture.

Speaking on the vision behind the gathering, Co-Founder and Group Managing Director of Xtralarge Farms and Resorts, Dr. Moji Davids, explained that the diaspora holds more than just financial capital.

“Nigeria’s greatest untapped wealth lies in its agricultural economy. The diaspora possesses enormous capacity, not only through remittances, but through investments, innovation, partnerships and knowledge transfer. The Nigeria–UK Green Gold Forum is about transforming goodwill into measurable impact that creates jobs, strengthens food security and builds lasting prosperity,” Davids said.

According to the organizers, the engagement strategy is built around clear, actionable investment pathways designed to de-risk agricultural entry for Nigerians living abroad.

The forum, themed “Agribusiness, Food and Agritourism: Our New Gold Frontiers,” is expected to unlock high-value agribusiness, create practical pathways for investment in agriculture, agritourism, healthy food enterprises, and agri-real estate while promoting food security, employment generation, and financial empowerment for Nigerians back home.

The initiative, she noted, aligns with the vision of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), under the leadership of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, which promotes stronger diaspora participation in Nigeria’s national development and also complements the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria by encouraging private-sector investment, food production, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth.

Organisers disclosed that the Leeds forum marks the beginning of a broader international engagement programme aimed at connecting Nigerians across the diaspora with impactful investment opportunities in agriculture and rural development.

“Another Nigeria–UK Green Gold Forum is scheduled for August 2026, while the Diaspora Farm Estates will be officially launched in both the United Kingdom and Canada later in August 2026. These initiatives are expected to provide structured opportunities for diaspora Nigerians to invest collectively in commercial agriculture while contributing to food security and wealth creation in Nigeria,” the organizers stated.

The organisers expressed confidence that the forum will become a flagship platform for strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and its global diaspora, fostering strategic partnerships, and positioning agriculture as one of the nation’s most important engines of sustainable prosperity.