Opinions

Abike Dabiri @57: Taking Diaspora to next level

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6 years ago

WHEN in December 2018, the then presidential nominee to the position of Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was asked by the Senator Rose Oko-led Committee on Diaspora and NGOs what was the Next Level for Diaspora Affairs in Nigeria, the committee was impressed with the response from the nominee. This is despite the fact that she was once a lawmaker for three consecutive terms of 12 years and should ordinarily take a bow in line with the legislative norm. I was so carried away that I gave her a round of applause that earned me a warning from Sen. Oko that “we don’t clap here, don’t do that again’’. Even though the eight National Assembly screened Hon. Dabiri-Erewa in December 2018, she was not confirmed as Chairman/CEO NIDCOM until May 2019, some days to the end of the tenure of that Assembly. Within a space of five months, May to October 2019, the poser is: Has Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa lived to her promise of taking the DiasporaAffairs in Nigeria to the Next Level? Mind you, even though Next Level, is a new slogan recently adopted by the APC –led government, the then-Senate Chairman on Diaspora Affairs belonged to the opposition PDP and made it clear that her Next Level was not that of a political party.

Of course, it is in the public domain that Hon. Dabiri-Erewa was the first chairman of the newly created committee on Diaspora Affairs in 2008 in the House of Representatives. She was also the first Chairman of the House on Committee on Media and Public Affairs in June 2003 to June 2007, when she worked at giving the House a credible image through absolute openness and transparency. As Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs (June 2008 till June 2015), her major spotlight was her advocacy and calls for justice and fairness for Nigerians abroad. Regrettably, for eight years of two legislative sessions, the Diaspora Commission bill was passed but not assented to by previous administrations. This background is necessary so as to connect to the Next Level wherein she has built Diaspora affairs within the shortest possible time to what is it today. In spite of the fact that she was no longer a member of the parliament since June 2015, she kept on lobbying for the passage of the Diaspora bill even before she was made the SSA to the President on Diaspora Affairs in April 2016 and ensured that the final passage was signed into law in June 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

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From May 2019 till date, she has ensured that the newly created Diaspora Commission keys into the Next Level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, though with the teething challenges associated with the pioneering of an agency. This has not deterred her from forging ahead. A Diaspora policy was drafted and validated, awaiting FEC approval; the Nigeria Diaspora Day was successfully done on July 25, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit was conceived and actualised, together with the Nigerians Diaspora Festival in Badagry. Many interventions to see to the welfare of Nigerians were diplomatically and pragmatically resolved. Series of collaborations and MOUs were sealed with critical stakeholders. Evacuation of stranded Nigerians from Libya, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey amidst several international engagements, was successfully done. Some Nigerians on death row were rescued, those in trouble were given succour, NIDCOM as an office suddenly picked up and became the toast of all and a commission to be proud of. Nigerian remittances increased and became the highest in Africa and the third in the world with $26 billion USD after India and China.

Patriotic Nigerians in the Diaspora, who were shoring up the image of the country abroad with their activities, skills and talents, were not only recognised, appreciated but celebrated by NIDCOM under the able leadership of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. What is more, she has been lucky to have been challenged with pioneering tasks and she has successfully taken them to the Next Level to the admiration of all. It must be pointed out that the coming on board of the commission had shored up the image of the country abroad due to the pragmatism and dynamism of Hon. Dabiri-Erewa who clocked 57 years on the surface of the earth on Friday, October 11. To this Amazon and wonderful boss, whom I was formally introduced to in 2003 as a fresh lawmaker by my senior colleague, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga of NTA, who told her that if you really want your activities to be propagated, “this is your man’’, then as a senior parliamentary editor with the News Agency of Nigeria. I must confess that I did not regret that bonding to date. Hon. Dabiri-Erewa always thinks Diaspora, dreams Diaspora and works Diaspora in all things that affect Nigerians in the Diaspora 24/7. When the staff of the Commission came around on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, and surprised her with birthday felicitations two days ahead of her birthday, the overwhelmed Dabiri-Erewa said: ”I am really humbled with all your show of love and you got me with this surprise birthday when I was still thinking of seeing you on Friday. Be rest assured that we have not started the job and we shall all achieve success together by taking Diaspora Affairs to greater heights.”

To many, the celebrator, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has several times been described as a sterling Nigerian Amazon, an outstandingly brilliant broadcaster, a great parliamentarian, a worthy, compassionate and kind-hearted Nigerian and a dynamic leader. A proud wife, mother and grandmother, who has won over 200 awards both nationally and internationally and has been a voice for the voiceless and remains a symbol of hope and inspiration to many. Her comportment, integrity, virtues and ideals are indeed qualities worthy of emulation. Her guiding philosophy at all time is that success is not about age; it is about character. It is not by how much you have in your account but how many lives you touch. As you mark your 57 years sojourn on earth and in the service of mankind, I wish you a memorable, rewarding and productive birthday. My unique prayer for you is that “ … May your tomorrow be better than today”’ (Quran 93 verse 4).