GADS 2023: Symposium is apt, in tune with the current realities of the global scene- PMB

Oru Leonard 

As Africa and the black race moves to harness the potential of it’s Diasporas around the globe, Nigeria plays host to the second edition of the Global African diaspora symposium 2023 with the theme:  “Building Stronger Connections Between Africa and the Global Diaspora”.

President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo yesterday noted that the theme of the symposium is apt and is in tune with the current realities of the global scene.

He called for a strong interface among Africans and their Diasporas around the world. it was necessary for Africans to connect and build a common front and also lay down strategic frameworks to address the challenges arising in the new world.

“Today presents another milestone in the history of our nation in hosting Africans and its Diaspora. The choice of Nigeria as its country is timely and historic in the face of our political transition to a new government presently.

“This symposium being the 2nd in the series talks on some very key objectives such as to create an interface for networking among Africans and other Disaporas around the world. To also promote the implementation and institutionalisation of Pan-Africanism at the United Nations through the celebration of the International decade for people of African descent, hoping that it becomes a platform for the promotion of the global Diaspora as a key resource for positively projecting Africa.

“It is empirical for Africans at home and in the Diaspora to connect and build a common front and also lay down strategic frameworks to address the challenges arising in the new world.

“The best approach to connect the Diaspora for sustainable development is to harness its vast materials and resources whether in the continent or in the Diaspora”, PMB stated.

He expressed his expectation that objectives of the symposium will lead to outcomes that give the entire African Diaspora a sense of belonging with an ease of entering and movement of the Diaspora in and around Africa.

Speaking at the event, minister of state, ministry of foreign affairs,Amb. Zubairu Dada , applauded the theme of the event stating that we can no longer think about our economy, society and scientific breakthroughs without thinking about the diaspora. He commended Mr President for approving the hosting of the symposium in Abuja as well as the OACPS diaspora centre of excellence also in Abuja.

In her remarks the Chairman of NiDCOM, Dr Abike Dabir- Erewa disclosed that the symposium which was a joint effort by Diaspora Alliance (AfDA) in conjunction with the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), both of the Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was designed to address and proffer workable solutions to Africa’s most pressing issues and offer concrete strategies as well as the needed affiliation between key Diaspora leaders in government, business, the private sector and the professions, with leaders on the African continent, so as to achieve successful results.

She said the efforts of the commission through its Presidential town hall meetings, Diaspora day celebrations, National diaspora investment summit, e.t.c had seen increased Diaspora engagements in several parts of the Nigerian Economy including Agriculture, Education, Health, Science and Technology, Information Communication Technology, Real Estate, Tourism and Culture, etc.

“Africa needs to engage more with her Diaspora, stressing that: “It is us coming together. We have everything that should make us great”, Abike emphasized.

Also in her remark, the Chairman, Global Organizing Committee Global African Diaspora Symposium, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, said all Africans must work together to achieve greatness.

“Only Africans can develop Africa. This goal of developing the African continent may not be achievable without the involvement of ‘the Sixth Region of the African Union: The African Diaspora.

“It is by harnessing the skills and expertise of this sixth Region can our dreams of a better Africa can be achieved, even as those of us within Africa join hands with those in the Diaspora to carry out the task of building the Africa of our dream”, she stressed.

Also in attendance was the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning , Prince Clem Agba who said that Nigeria should learn from South Africa and Rwanda to engage its diaspora for the Overall socio economic and cultural development of the country stating that the African diaspora is an integral part of the global diaspora community and while he commended our efforts towards engaging our diaspora community he stated that opportunities for them to contribute to the development of the African continent remained unexploited largely because of proper coordination.

In his keynote presentation, Founder of constituency for Africa, Mr. Melvin Foote said he believed that the way he contributes to helping Africa is by influencing the policies of the United States that affect Africa citing his contribution to Obama’s “ Young African leaders initiative” as well as his contributions towards the Biden administrations policies towards Africa.

About sixty countries participated participated including India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Ghana, Namibia, Kenya among others…