President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday assured Nigerians in the Diaspora that his administration will give special priority to Diaspora engagement in its Renewed Hope agenda.
Speaking through the Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at the opening of the 17th National Diaspora Day (NDD) event in Abuja, said that his administration will be a Diaspora-friendly government through flexible and easy policies for engagement with its Diaspora.
Describing the theme of the National Diaspora Day ” Consolidating Diaspora Engagement for National Development ” as apt, he said Nigeria is under a new political dispensation, geared towards making Nigeria better.
He recalled that Nigerians living abroad in previous years have aided in many ways the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and are passionate about the affairs of the nation.
Tinubu called on the citizens abroad to join his administration in the rebuilding the nation to greater heights and commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for all its commitment towards an enhanced Diaspora engagement, promising adequate support to empower the Commission.
Earlier, the Governor of Borno state, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by his deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur congratulated Nigerians world over for
being exceptional in all diverse fields.
He averred that the Nigerians in the Diaspora has been a push for national growth, urging that all hands must be on deck to make the country great.
The Governor lauded Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM for her vision and passion for Diasporas and assured that the people and government of Borno state will accord the Commission and the government of Nigeria the means of fostering healthy Diaspora engagement and investments.
In his remarks, Amb. Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Amb. Samson Itegboje applauded the Nigerians in the Diaspora for their contributions in Nigeria.
He commended NiDCOM for all their efforts and promised to work hand in hand with the Commission for better Diaspora relations.
Earlier in her welcome Speech, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa was very elated at this year’s celebrations, being the first time the event will have the Diaspora Merit Awards.
According to her, the Awards is done to recognise some outstanding Nigerians in the Diaspora, and encourage others to be exceptional.
She canvassed for a national holiday for the NDD celebrations so as to make Diaspora relations in Nigeria as competitive as its counterparts in India, Israel, Ghana, Italy and many more.
The NIDCOM boss stated that in the last four years, the Commission has tirelessly worked to harmonise relations between Nigeria and its Diaspora who have been making the country proud of their achievements in various fields of human endeavours.
Dabiri-Erewa, however, used the opportunity to solicit for more support to empower the Commission by reviewing its Act as well as provision of enabling environment to be able to harness the potentials of the diaspora.
Highlights of the programme include exhibitions, panel discussions and interviews and goodwill messages from many stakeholders across various fields.