NATIONAL DIASPORA DAY: PMB Commends Nigerians in Diaspora
Oru Leonard
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has commended
the contributions of Nigerians in Diaspora to the social-economic development of the country.
PMB said this at the maiden Virtual National Diaspora Day celebration held on Saturday, July 25, 2020 in Abuja via Webinar with the theme for“Leverage the Diaspora Resources for National Development.”
He said that over the past three years, Nigerians in diaspora had brought in over 25 billion dollars as home remittances to the Nigerians economy annually through official and non-formal channels.
“This is about six per cent of our GDP and upwards of 80 per cent of our annual budget. This has impacted on the livelihoods of Nigerians in terms of education, health, housing and estate development, industry, trade and investments “Agriculture and technology/skills transfer.
In terms of diaspora home remittances, Nigeria is rated as number one in sub-saharan Africa and this is still growing, especially with the advocacy and mobilisation programmes of the newly established Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
“The Nigerians in Diaspora are also known to be engaged in skill transfer in ICT and industry. They are also active in our Universities as lecturers and in carrying out Medical Missions.
“It is therefore my sincere hope that even with the depressed economy of the 2020 due to the corona virus pandemic, Nigerians in the diaspora will rise up to the occasion of not abandoning their country of origin, Nigeria.
“But be active in our Post COVID-19 economic recovery efforts. My three point agenda for Nigerians in Diaspora remains the same, and it is relevant at this auspicious occasion, and I repeat them as follows:
“You are our ambassador-at-large by your actions, comportment and character in your host countries. In whatever endeavor you do, you must excel and be the best, and lastly, do not forget home, Nigeria, by giving back and engaging in its development.’’ he said.
The President added that in his interactions with Nigerians in the Diaspora at the town hall meetings, he had been impressed with their support and contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
He noted that since its establishment a year ago, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has a lot to celebrate. This is because the passion and consistency that saw to the establishment of the commission, has been maintained and sustained. Some of you are already aware of the following programmes of the Commission:
Annual Diaspora Day. 25th July. This is the 15th diaspora day, the second to be organized by NiDCOM.
Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (an NGO Initiative) in collaboration with NIDCOM.
The Diaspora Festival, The Door of Return, Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria.
The Diaspora State Focal Persons Summit. I welcome all the 27 State Diaspora Focal Persons who are here with us.
Nigeria – Saudi Arabia Investment Forum.
Interventions in the Rescue of Nigerians Stranded Abroad. (Collaborative efforts.)
Victims of Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa 2019.
Rescue of Abia-Uchenna and Ebochinedu (Students of FUTO Owerri) from Croatia.
Intervention in respect of Zainab Aliyu in Saudi Arabia (falsely framed and accused of drug related offence).
Ibrahim Ibrahim (falsely accused and jailed) in Saudi. Etc.
Rescue and repatriation of 69 Nigerian women from Lebanon.
Collaboration with NIMC to register Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The Collaborations with International Agencies and NGOs: ICMPD, ILO, IOM, EU, AU etc. ix. NIDCOM was part of the delegation to the 12th All Africa games in Rabat Morocco, 2019.
Petitions: The Commission receives treats petitions from Nigerians in Diaspora on daily basis, in relation to their welfare. Some of these petitions that are beyond the mandate of the Commission are usually channeled to the appropriate agencies.
Diaspora Town Hall Meetings: The Chairman/CEO (as part of the Presidents foreign visits and on his directive) organise town hall meetings of Nigerians living abroad to interact with HE, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR whenever he travels outside the country. This has held in USA, UK, France, Japan, South Africa, Russia, China etc.
xii. During this Covid-19, the Chairman/CEO held several webinar town hall discussions with the Diaspora.
Also speaking, Abike said NiDCOM is partnering with the OPS Wash (the umbrella body for private engagement to support the declaration to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2024). We plan to mobilize millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora to fund a toilet per household. A global project will soon be launched and we look forward to all Nigerians in the Diaspora to participate in this most needed project.
She said the theme “Leveraging Diaspora Resources for National Development in a covid-19 era” is not only appropriate but a summary of the entire mandate of NIDCOM. The activities we have executed, those ongoing, and the ones that are yet to take-off are all definitive, of the theme. Our interactions today is expected to mobilize you to key into some of the programmes and chart improved or better ways on how to achieve them.
“We hope that at the end of the day, we would have motivated the Nigerians in the Diaspora on deployment of diaspora investments and entrepreneurship to assist with the post-COVID-19 recovery process, especially as diaspora home remittances which sustain livelihoods are impacted negatively by the pandemic. That Diaspora groups and individuals who are yet to join the train would have realized the need to be part of the opportunities that abound for economic investments or Charitable Missions in Nigeria.
“The rich academic, professional, and various contemporary experiences have already placed you, the Diaspora at an advantage. I am therefore enthusiastically waiting to have you empty yourselves generously, to enrich the delivery of the Commission’s Mandate, and ultimately the development of our dear country Nigeria”, The NiDCOM Boss noted
She further noted that the speaker today, Masai Ujiri, is of an internationally renowned, accompli is even more appreciated because he always remembers home and has contributed immensely to the development of the Nigerian youth and plans to do a lot more.
“We are Nigerians and we are proud. Show me one Nigerian committing a crime and I will show you ten thousand doing great things, I want to seize the opportunity to commend Mr. Ikenna Nweke, the Nigerian in Japan who recently returned huge sums of money he found. We appreciate Ikenna who is presently here with us at this conference”, Abike concluded.
