The Mayor of Houston, Mayor John Whitmire has called for direct flights between Nigeria and Houston as well as opening a Nigeria Consulate in the state to further strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and the United States of America, USA.
This was the highlight of a meeting between the Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum representing Mayor John Whitmire, in Houston, Texas, USA.
Pointing out that Houston hosts one of the largest population of Nigerians in the US, the Mayor said these measures would further deepen collaboration in areas such as consular representation, trade and diaspora engagement.
The Mayor also stressed that such measures would not only strengthen bilateral relations but enhance services and opportunities for the Nigerian community in Houston.
On the call for the establishment of a Nigerian Consulate in Houston as well as the commencement of direct flight, the Chairman of NiDCOM, Dr. Dabiri-Erewa assured that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation in Nigeria were looking into both requests.
They both described the meeting as “productive and forward-looking,” underlining Houston’s commitment to stronger Nigeria-US ties.
Also in attendance at the meeting were the former Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia, Ambassador Chigozie Obi, International Community Relations Manager for Mayor Whitmire, Mr Kunle “ Kay “ Elegbede, Consular Relations Manager, Toni Jenkins, International Affairs Liason, Isabella Benavides, a young intern at the Mayors office, Yorke Sydney.
Miss Sydney used the meeting to learn about International affairs and expressed her admiration of Dr. Dabiri’s career trajectory from journalism to Politics.
Victoria Ibanga