The duo of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) have expressed their delight at the exploit of Nigerians in Diaspora, who are excelling in various endeavours.
This is coming on the heels of the diaspora remittances reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which increased from $336.61 million in September 2024 to $402.38 million in October 2024.
Sanwo-Olu, who was the Special Guest of Honour, was represented by his Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the ConnectEDiaspora Fireside Chat 2024 in collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM’s) Homestrings Programme in Lagos, implored Nigerians in the Diaspora to cherish the country and its culture in order to preserve their identity.
He encouraged them to interrogate the environment, identify opportunities, and contribute their quota to national development, sharing his experience on how he returned to Nigeria after working in the United States of America for a few years.
He advised Nigerians abroad to desist from spreading negative narratives about the country, and tasked them to look for opportunities, as foreigners are thriving despite the challenges faced by the country.
Speaking in the same vein, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa advised Nigerians in the Diaspora to continue to contribute to the nation’s socio-economic development, as many are already doing.
She reiterated that Nigeria’s challenges could only be redressed through the collaboration of Nigerians both at home and abroad.
The NIDCOM boss added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working assiduously towards addressing the challenges confronting the nation through various pro- active reforms and policies.
The Diaspora Homestrings event, according to her, was aimed at empowering Nigerian youth through innovation and impact.
Speaking on the increase in Diaspora remittances, she praised the remarkable growth in Nigeria’s diaspora remittances, which rose by 61.1 per cent in one year from January to October 2024.
She commended the policies put in place by the CBN and noted that Nigerians in diaspora are also investing in the country as amplified during the recent Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS).
She emphasised that NiDCOM will continue to be a bridge between Nigerians in the diaspora and Nigeria, adding that the growing trust among Nigerians in the diaspora underscores their continued commitment to contributing to national development.
The NiDCOM Boss reminded Nigerian diasporas that the Commission is ever ready to foster stronger links with them to rub minds and explore platforms for more opportunities particularly amongst the younger generation of Nigerians abroad.
The first Connected Diaspora event, a networking gathering that brought together younger generation of Nigerians living abroad, was held by NiDCOM’s Homestrings program in partnership with Connected Diaspora led by Siji Abere and Nosa Okunsebor. They both reiterated their commitment to train young Nigerians in technology and digital space through partnership with Innovation hub. Award winning actress Omotola Jalade Ekehinde, World Chess Champion, Tunde Onakoya ,DG SMEDAN,Charles Odii, Real Estate Mogul, Yemi Edun, Head of the Lagos Diaspora Agency, Jermaine Sanwoolu, were also present as special guests.
An excellent array of panelists from the diaspora included Genevieve Nkiruka Wakeley- Jones (Vice Chair of the British Nigeria Law Forum, Dr. Joyce Omatseye, Founder AYA NINI Health; Lanre Vigo, Co-Founder and CEO Inter Lagos FC and Head of sports management at the Plug.
