Diaspora Engagement: IOM Commends NiDCOM As Africa’s Trailblazer
For the African continent to move to become a driving force on the
global stage, it is important to tap into the enormous resources of its
diaspora, both within and outside the continent ,and the Nigerians in
Diaspora Commission is at the forefront in this regard.
Organisation for Migration (IOM) stated this when he led the Namibian
delegation on Study Tour of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NiDCOM)
in Abuja.
Mr Omoyeni added that it will go along way if, engagement with Africans
in the Diaspora can be handled at continental, regional and state levels
thus impacting development at the grassroots.
He went further to point out the project such as, Southern Africa
Diaspora Investment Community (SADIC) which is centred on improving
socio-economic and other forms of development through engagement of
Southern parts of Africa with its Diasporas.
Mr. David Ligonda, Deputy Director: Labour Market Information: Ministry
of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, Namibia,
applauded Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the NiDCOM team for being
pathfinders in Africa’s quest to engage her Diaspora for meaningful
turn around of Africa’s development with the establishment of Africa’s
first agency for Diaspora affairs by Nigeria.
Mr. Ligonda agreed that migration is a fundamental human right and the
Diaspora is a key element to development in any country, their welfare
is equally critical adding that better strategies for managed migration
be developed.
Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora
Commission (NiDCOM) commended IOM and Namibian delegates for choosing
NiDCOM for a study tour emphasising that Namibia becomes the second
country, after Ethiopia, to undertake a study tour of NiDCOM within two
months interval.
The NiDCOM Boss emphasised that Africa needs to maximize greatly the
full potentials of its Diaspora adding that to have a developed and
innovative continent, the onus lies on all the African countries to
converge together, to find ways to improve the status quo.
Dr Dabiri-Erewa stated further stressed the need for each country to
recognise its respective Diaspora, through an effective and productive
engagement with its Diaspora.
Using the Nigerian example, the Chairman of the Commission highlighted
the ways Nigerians in the Diaspora have been engaged and managed, such
as the Presidential Town Hall Meetings with the Diasporas, Webinar
meetings, Adoption of a National Diaspora Policy, the Nigerian Diaspora
Investment Summit, the proposed Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust
Fund, appointment of State Diaspora Focal Point Officers (SDFPOs) and
much more, which have actualised positive results.
The NiDCOM CEO said that as part of the move to focus more on
development in Africa, the Commission plans to have a virtual programme
that will engage with the Nigerian Diaspora, resident in African
Countries especially the upcoming African Diaspora Summit in the middle
of the year to brainstorm with other Africans in the Diaspora to boost
growth in the Continent.