President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has assured Nigerians in the Diaspora of effective policies to create an enabling platform to garner support for the new administration and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, setting a positive example for other African countries.
Speaking at the 2023 National Diaspora Day Celebrations in Abuja, Tinubu pledged that the government will address the challenges enumerated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to maximise the benefits of engaging with Nigerians abroad for national development.
He highlighted the significance of the National Diaspora Policy 2021, which designates July 25th annually as a day to celebrate Nigerians in the Diaspora, recognise their contributions to national development and foster connections with government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), State Diaspora Focal Point Officers (SDFPOs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria.
“The theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Consolidating Diaspora Engagements for National Development,’ is fitting as it heralds a new era in our political journey, aiming to strengthen policies and programs in collaboration with our Diaspora Community worldwide for national development.”
Tinubu reaffirmed the government’s high regard for the Diaspora and its efforts to engage them, citing the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in 2019 and the adoption of the National Diaspora Policy in 2021.
He also mentioned the Presidential Diaspora Town-hall meetings, a practice to interact with Nigerians in the Diaspora during Presidential official trips abroad.
Tinubu emphasised the importance of engaging with the Diaspora and celebrating their achievements, which include significant contributions to Nigeria’s image globally, remittances, and investments in various sectors.
Notably, this year’s Diaspora Day celebration features the maiden edition of the National Diaspora Merit Awards, an initiative to boost morale within the Diaspora community and encourage their involvement in national development.
In her Opening Remarks, the Chairman and CEO of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, emphasized the positive impact of Diaspora engagements on national development, citing examples from countries like India, Israel, Germany, China, Italy, and Ghana.
She stressed the need for Nigeria to harness the resources of its Diaspora to promote socioeconomic growth, infrastructure development, and poverty reduction.
Dabiri-Erewa praised the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) four years ago, which has been instrumental in fostering connections and sustaining engagement with Nigerians abroad.
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