The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has described Nigerians has one of the most resilient, hardworking, intelligent and resourceful people in the Diaspora, noting that their contribution is key to national development.
Dabiri-Erewa stated this a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday ahead of the National Diaspora Day slated to hold on July 25, 2023.
The theme for this year is: “Consolidating Diaspora Engagement for National Development”, which focuses on galvanising the skills, network and experiences of the Diaspora as indispensable assets to bolster Nigeria’s growth.
According to the NIDCOM boss, this year’s event will be the fifth in its series since the establishment of the Commission, adding that it will be a two-day ceremony unlike previous ones.
Warning that it would be tragic if the nation failed to tap into the immense potentials of Nigerians abroad, Dabiri-Erewa observed that Nigeria’s greatest resource is not its material resources but its human resources.
She said: “The abundant talent, ambitions and energy of our people; qualities that we carry about with us everywhere we go in the world is unmatched.
“Over 17 million Nigerians are performing feats, internationally in the fields of Education, medicine, health, sports, leadership and politics, skills, knowledge, network and experiences are indispensable assets which can be harnessed to bolster Nigeria’s progress and development.
“We must accept that the Diaspora characterizes a powerful force for change – not because of the financial remittances, but because they pose a lot more than the figures remitted. They are the link to our past and present, and possibly our hope for a better future for Nigeria.
“These men and women from Nigeria, therefore, must be intentionally celebrated in every possible way for their role as ambassadors of our dear country globally; trendsetters in various walks of life but most importantly in encouraging them to invest in the sustainable growth of the country. Hence, the celebrations each year is to recognize them and mainstream them into our National development agenda.
According to her, the 2023 diaspora day would be celebrated in two days to ccommodate the Diaspora Merit Awards as well presentations by Diaspora groups and associations
Dabiri-Erewa who stated that the Diaspora Merit Awards has been a long time coming, adding that many Nigerians in the Diaspora have positively contributed both to Nigeria and their host countries.
To the NIDCOM boss, this was done to recognise and celebrate them, as well as encourage them to continue to contribute to the country’s national development
She further stated that consolidating Diaspora engagement for national development cannot be overlooked as the diaspora community is a vast low hanging fruits of untapped resources, and by harnessing their expertise, investments and cultural influence, “we can launch Nigeria towards greater heights.”
