As Nigeria marks the 2021 National Diaspora Day, the country’s Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM has called for peace and national development.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa made the call while addressing diasporans at the event in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The Chief of Mission, International Organization on Migration, (IOM) Franz Celestine unveiled the National Diaspora Policy which was validated on the 5th of July 2019 by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country and approved by the Federal Executive Council on the 28th of February, 2021.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that the policy was put together to effectively promote and harness the capacity and resources of Nigerians in the Diaspora for the growth and the development of the nation amongst other things.
“To empower Nigerians in the Diaspora as change agents for the development of Nigeria through promoting a framework for them to maximize their potentials in capital, knowledge, and networks and to Constructively engage Nigerians in the Diaspora for sustainable national development.“
According to her, the Policy is the first of its kind with a holistic Action Plan with five years implementation programme.
“This will assist the Commission to deliver the mandate as well as harness the potentials of the Nigerians in the Diaspora for national development,“ she noted
The Chairman who described the Nigerians in Diaspora as a global phenomenon said Nigerians all over the globe have proven to be the best in all their fields of endeavours hence the need for a total collaboration and maximum cooperation of all Nigerians in the diaspora.
According to her, there is also the need to share their expertise in the use of technology and their global exposure to achieve peace and development in Nigeria.
“As we are aware Nigeria is home, where we have families, investments, etc. The need therefore to share ideas and techniques that will assist the country in their Post Covid19 recovery process is very important as a peaceful environment is the best to deliver national development”.
” The good thing is the amazing passion they have for their country and the and the fantastic interest of knowing that there’s a Commission dedicated particularly to the Diasporans.“
The Chairman further stated that more Nigerians in the Diaspora are getting more involved in national investment especially in the areas of ICT, Agriculture, Real estate amongst others.
” The second and third generation of Nigerians in the Diaspora are amazing and that’s why we are focussing on them a lot this time around.
“They are the best in the world and they are now working with Nigerians at home to ensure that the full potential is achieved.
” It’s not about where you are, it’s about what you do where you are. It’s about human capital
” You can see that bad stories about Nigeria is beginning to go down. We are showcasing them, celebrating them.”
Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged the Diasporans to be more committed to nation-building by getting more involved in order to see the kind of home they would want to come back to.
The 2021 National Diaspora Day was themed; Diaspora Integration For National Peace and Development.
PIAK
