Nigerians In Diaspora, Catalyst For Accelerated Development- Zubairu Dada
The Hon. Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada says
harnessing the human capital and material resources of Nigerians in
Diaspora towards the socio-economic, cultural and political development
of Nigeria can no longer be ignored.
Quarterly Lecture Series with the topic: MOBILIZING NIGERIANS IN THE
DIASPORA FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs says it is legit to describe the
Nigerian Diaspora as catalysts for accelerated development of Nigeria
deserving to be treated and regarded as such.
The Minister pointed out that the Nigerian Diaspora Community globally
is well educated, resource endowed, skilled, talented and exposed to
global best practices and patriotic in terms of maintaining filial
relationships with Nigeria.
Ambassador Dada sees the following strategies as tools used for tapping
into the enormous potentials of the Diaspora which include:
Establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM); National
Diaspora Policy; Constitution of Senate and House of Representatives
Committees on Diaspora Affairs, building and strengthening ties with the
Diaspora; Diaspora Voting, National Diaspora Day Celebrations and
Establishment of the State Diaspora Focal Point Officers.
According to Amb. Dada, “the outcome of which has led to the numerous
contributions from our Diaspora on Health, Education, sports,
Entertainment, ICT and Agriculture”.
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while speaking on
the achievements and sweeping reforms embark upon by the Ministry and
its Parastatals particularly the Nigerian Immigration Service, have
established Front Offices in some selected airports in Nigeria.
On applications and issuance of passports, the Interior Minister says
the shortage of passports will soon be a thing of the past as they are
working hard to resolve it “all passports application to be made online
and passports to take two weeks and applicants to be informed via emails
and our affiliates to have passports support centers”, the Minister
explains.
In the meantime, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission,
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa explained that the Diaspora Quarterly Lecture
Series is projected to be a major aspect of national discourse, where
Nigerians can be kept abreast of the Government’s Policies, programmes
and Projects in Nigeria and her Diaspora Community.
According to her, “It will be expert oriented and participants would
also have the opportunity to contribute to the discourse”.
Some participants across Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe UK and the
Americas asked questions on current issues facing Nigeria ranging from
insecurity, ineffient power supply, issuance of National ID cards,
Diaspora Voting, Constitution of the Diaspora Board members of NIDCOM,
Diaspora engagements, as well as, foreign direct investments among
others.
The issues were well marshalled out by the Minister of State, Foreign
Affairs and the Chairman/CEO NIDCOM Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Over two thousand participants hooked virtually to the Inaugural
Diaspora Quarterly Lecture Series.
