President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians living abroad to partner with the government in advancing the collective efforts to rebuild and transform the nation.
He affirmed that Nigeria’s rise to its rightful position within the global community has begun.
The President, on Thursday, during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Union in Japan, held on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), assured Nigerians in the Diaspora that the country’s economy is stabilising.
The Nigerian Leader said vast opportunities now abound for Nigerians in the diaspora, emphasising that reforms were yielding visible results.
Speaking on the administration’s determination to reverse negative trends and make the country a land of prosperity for its citizens at home and abroad, President Tinubu said that the government’s priority is to create an environment where every citizen, home or abroad, can feel the positive impact of change.
“All I want to do is assure you that things are stable. The economy is stabilized; the opportunity is immense. People are coming back; we are reversing the medical tourism in every way that we could, and I can give you the assurance we are seeing the beginning of Nigeria rising,” the President said.
Developmental aspirations
He reminded the Diaspora audience that while it is a personal right to remain abroad, the nation still depends on their input to achieve its developmental aspirations.
“I am happy to listen to you for whatever. Happy to report to you that many of our people are coming back home. Yes, for economic reasons, some people might decide to stay away, it’s a fundamental right of the individual, but for the economic growth and opportunity that is available in Nigeria, don’t stay away. Your contribution is very much needed. If you stay away, who will build it?” the President asked.
The Nigerian Leader emphasised that his government was committed to creating an environment where every Nigerian could thrive, noting that governance is about “thinking and doing,” to promote unity, stability, and progress.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians living in Japan to remain good ambassadors of their country and to reflect positively on its image, adding that, “poor comments and negative reflections will not help the growth of Nigeria.”
Bold reforms
Also addressing the gathering, the Minister of State for Industry and Investment, John Enoh, highlighted the bold reforms undertaken by the Tinubu-led administration.
He recalled recent comments by the World Trade Organisation’s Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Nigeria’s policy direction, describing the reforms as the foundation of future growth.
“We have a President who is undeniable, who is focused, and who is pursuing the reforms that our country deserves,” he said.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu, noted that Nigeria is now experiencing accelerated technology transfer, driven by presidential policies.
He stated that more than 1,000 applications had been received globally for investment in Nigeria’s technology and industrial sectors, with over $2 billion already committed and factories set to be established in partnership with Japanese firms.
Exchange rate
From the private sector, Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, lauded the administration’s economic reforms, especially the liberalisation of the exchange rate and removal of fuel subsidies.
He said these decisions had improved government revenues, boosted foreign investment, and spurred growth across sectors ranging from oil and gas to mining, telecommunications, and small enterprises.
“We’ve never experienced the closeness with government as we do today,” he remarked.
Also speaking, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Tokyo, lauded the academic contributions of Nigerians in Japan, stating that professionals are excelling in various fields.
She described the meeting as an opportunity to strengthen bonds with the Diaspora community under Nigeria’s new foreign policy thrust.
Source of pride
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Union in Japan, Emeka Egbogota, welcomed President Tinubu to the “Land of the Rising Sun” on behalf of the community, describing his presence at TICAD9 as a source of pride and unity.
He applauded the President’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria driven by technology, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth, pledging the community’s support for his administration’s agenda.
The interactive session concluded with renewed partnership between the government and the Nigerian diaspora, as President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive nation-building and emphasised that every citizen has a role in advancing the country’s progress.
Lateefah Ibrahim