Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has described Nigerians in the Diaspora as agents of change, innovation, investment, and social transformation, emphasising the need for stronger institutional frameworks to engage them effectively.
Speaking through his Deputy, Mr. Peter Odey, at the opening of the 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers Summit in Calabar, Governor Otu described the establishment of State Diaspora Focal Point Offices and the hosting of Officers’ Summits across the country as the best platform for strategic engagement with Nigerians in the Diaspora.
He commended the vision of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), noting that “its mission is to harness the capacity and resources of Cross Riverians in the Diaspora for the overall development of the state and nation.”
Governor said that the 2021 National Diaspora Policy provides a comprehensive framework for engaging Nigerians abroad for national growth, adding that Cross River State is delighted to host this Summit of like minds in the Canaan City.
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised the initiative behind the Summit, explaining that it was designed to strengthen the role of states in coordinating Diaspora affairs.
“The Diaspora cannot be ignored anymore in Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
She also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to advancing Diaspora-related issues.
Dabiri-Erewa urged state governments to continue supporting their Focal Point Officers to maximize the benefits of Diaspora engagement.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, NGOs and Civil Societies, Senator Bassey Aniekan, represented by the Deputy Chairman, Senator Anthony Yaro, described Nigerians in the Diaspora as “a new economic window and one of the nation’s greatest assets.”
Aniekan noted that their skills, knowledge, and global networks remain vital to national development.
“Strengthening the states and our Diaspora will not only drive growth but also deepen unity and shared prosperity across our nation,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Tochukwu Okere, highlighted the tangible impact of the Nigerian Diaspora through various developmental programmes, projects, and remittances.
Okere pointed to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showing annual remittances exceeding $20 billion, underscoring the Diaspora’s critical role in sustaining the economy.
The Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), Prince Otu Okor, described the hosting of the Summit in Calabar as a landmark event for Cross River State.
He noted that the state was proud to be the first in Nigeria to establish a Diaspora Commission modeled after NIDCOM, reaffirming its commitment to deepening engagement with its citizens abroad.
The event attracted participants from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Focal Point Officers from Akwa Ibom, Benue, Enugu, Niger, FCT, Kogi, Ekiti, Edo, and Cross River States, as well as other strategic partners.
The Summit, themed: “Nigerians in Diaspora as Agents for Positive Image of Nigeria and State Involvement as a Platform for Diaspora Engagement in National Development,” focused on leveraging the Diaspora’s potential for national progress and image building.
Olusola Akintonde