As part of efforts to enshrine inclusivity in governance and promote the growth of its local economy, the government of Cross River State in southern Nigeria has unveiled the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM).
The deputy governor of Cross River State, Dr. Peter Odey officially launched the commission and unveiled its logo during a brief ceremony in Calabar, the state capital.
Dr. Odey described the establishment of CRIDCOM as a ‘brainchild‘ of the present administration designed to harness the immense potential of Cross River citizens residents in the countries to the world.
According to the deputy governor, the commission would serve as a liaison between government and any potential Cross River citizen abroad willing to invest in the state.
He further urged the commission to identify potential economic areas for investment, saying “we are opening our doors for that collaboration.
We call on Cross River citizens in the diaspora to partner with the administration of Governor Bassey Otu as we uncover the economic potential of Cross River State in agriculture, mining, technology, education and healthcare.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission, Prince Otu Okor, said that the unveiling signalled the beginning of a new era in the engagement with the diaspora community.
Okor reiterated the commitment of members to effectively utilize the commission as a dynamic platform to facilitate collaboration, attract investment and promote knowledge sharing between Cross River State government and its citizens in the diaspora.
He commended the governor for setting up the commission and extended the same courtesy to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa alongside other key stakeholders for their unwavering support and contributions.
In separate goodwill messages, the secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, Patrick Asikpo Okon, the President of Cross River citizens in Diaspora, Christopher Lekan and the Chief of Mission for Nigeria at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Sharon Dimanche, said that the commission would bridge the gap between those at home and abroad as well as connect local aspirations to global opportunities.
They promised to collaborate with the commission to build a robust and inclusive diaspora engagement framework that would align with Governor Otu’s People First mantra and the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Victoria Ibanga