From Local Content to Int’l Content: Akpabio names Natasha C’ttee Chairman on Diaspora

The Senate has announced Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central senatorial district, as the Senate Committee Chairman on Diaspora.

Shortly after the announcement, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, at an interview with the press vowed network with the Diaspora Network across the world and ensure the welfare of Nigerians abroad are a top priority while seeing the country reaps the benefits of their expertise and financial contributions.

She lamented that Nigeria has failed to capitalise on the technological expertise of its citizens living abroad unlike other African countries like Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, etc.

“India’s tech industry grew by the support of the Indian community in America.

“The Ethiopian cotton industry grew by the technology transfer of Ethiopians in Sweden.

“Therefore, Nigeria, having the largest population of foreigners in America, United Kingdom, and Canada, can benefit greatly through a coordinated strategy which will help transfer skills and technology to Nigeria and in turn build a sustainable economy.”

The senator also emphasised the enormous financial contributions made by Nigerians abroad (6% of the country’s GDP) while stressing the dire need to make it easier and cheaper for them to send money back home.

“No African country has received as much foreign inflow as Nigeria in the last decade, whereas an average of $25bn is remitted annually. Thus, in the wake of the ‘JAPA’ season, Nigeria’s foreign inflow put at $25bn is likely to increase.

“In 2024, the remittance flow to Subharan Africa reached $54bn with Nigeria accounting for 35.19 per cent. It can increase if the cost of sending money is reduced from 7.5% to 3% and consider having Diaspora bank in Nigeria like Ghana,” she said.

Senator Uduaghan promised to work closely with foreign NGOs like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Rockerfella Foundation, amongst others organizations, to ensure structure, form, and accountability of impact is derived from their numerous billion dollars investment in support of innovation, health, education and many more.

She expressed optimism that her leadership of the committee would bring significant benefits to Nigeria, her technology, and its diaspora community.

The Senate also named Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia) and Sen. Babangida Hussaini (APC-Jigawa) as Chairmen of Senate Committees on the South-East Development Commission and North-West Development Commission, respectively.

Also named as Vice Chairmen of the committees were Sen. Mohammed Dandutse (APC-Katsina), North-West Development Commission, and Sen. Ken Eze (APC-Ebonyi), South East Development Commission, amongst others.