Nigeria needs its diaspora expertise in nation building – Speaker

Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, says Nigeria is in dire need of her diaspora expertise in nation building.

The speaker said this in Abuja on Thursday at the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations with the theme “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

The speaker, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, said that the Federal Government was aware of the huge impact of the diaspora experts’ contributions in investment geared towards nation building.

According to him, the Federal Government of Nigeria knows the huge impact that you are making in your host communities and back home in Nigeria through your numerous investments.

“We are not interested in the money that you are bringing back home or the investment that you bring back, but the nation is in dire need for you to come and occupy one position or the other back home.

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“Maybe for a few years, to add those skills, experiences and professionalism that you have, while representing Nigeria at the shores of Nigeria.

“Also, it is a great pleasure for me to attend the 2024 National Diaspora Day celebration, it is crystal clear that the cooperation between the Nigerian government and its diaspora is yielding positive results.

“May I start by extending my warm congratulations to all Nigerians in the diaspora, the Nigerian government through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, I believe with the joint collaboration with the Federal Government and Nigerians in diaspora, it will boost national development.

“This year’s theme is apt and comes with the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu’s led-administration, his government is committed to the development of Nigeria,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, Ms Melissa Jones, the Mission Director to Nigeria for USAID, described Nigerians as smart, intelligent, extraordinary and innovative people, saying that with Nigeria’s collective power, it can move any landscape and can be beneficial to her people.

“It is also true that the diaspora in the United States, who live in Huston, Atlanta, New York, in every place and every state in the U.S. are much better than the diaspora anywhere else.

“On behalf of the U.S. government, I am pleased to be at this celebration which is an extraordinary achievement and the contributions of over 20 million U.S. dollars that comes from the Nigerians in the diaspora.

“ I am also here to celebrate the power of partnerships between the U.S. government and the Nigerian people, and I extend my regards to all of you who have coordinated this event,’’ she said.

According to her, I have only been in Nigeria for nine months, but you do not have to be in a country for that long to understand that `Nigerian Jollof Rice’ is better than Jollof rice in any other part of the world.

In her remarks, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said that many countries cutting across all the continents of the world have evidence and testimonials of accelerated national development due to their Diaspora engagements.

“Countries like India, Israel, Germany, China, Italy and Ghana harnessed their diaspora resources meticulously and judiciously, towards socio-economic growth and development and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

“Such efforts made impacts on capacity and infrastructural developments when properly deployed. Diaspora resources often create positive measurable ripple effects that could mitigate unemployment, leading to the improvement in the quality of life and reduction in poverty.

“The return to democratic rule in 1999 saw the government of Nigeria rekindled interest in its diaspora. These efforts eventually produced the Act establishing NiDCOM, which provides for the engagement of Nigerians in diaspora in policies, projects and participation in the development of Nigeria.

“This is for the purpose of utilising the human, capital and material resources of Nigerians in diaspora towards the overall socio- economic, cultural and political development of Nigeria and for related matters,’’ NiDCOM boss said.

According to her, NiDCOM has since taken off and has developed a robust Diaspora Policy that was being studied and copied by several African countries as a model for diaspora engagements.

“The National Diaspora Day Celebrations prescribed by the National Diaspora Policy is set aside to recognise, acknowledge and celebrate the over 20 million Nigerians in the diaspora.

“Both the modern and the historic diaspora who are contributing immensely to national development,’’ NiDCOM chief said.