The Diaspora has been described as very essential to the national growth, progress and development of any country.
Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated this at a press conference as part of activities ahead the yearly National Diaspora Day celebrations, holding on 25 July, 2022.
She also declared that all is set for this year’s edition of National Diaspora Day Celebrations, with the theme: “Diaspora Engagement in Global Challenges Times for National Development.”
These were contained in a press release e-signed by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM.
Stressing its essential, the NiDCOM boss further stated that a robust engagement with the Diaspora is crucial to Nigeria’s development and growth, noting that no nation can make progress without its Diaspora.
Dabiri-Erewa added that voting right, home remittances, investment and all-round engagements with Nigerians in the Diaspora and those at home will surely turn around the country’s economic fortunes.
She further pushed for more campaigns to get Diaspora voting through in Nigeria and disclosed that several African countries have successfully engaged in Diaspora voting.
On the theme of the celebration, she said it is an elixir to all the past and recent challenges which have faced the Diaspora, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine/Russian crisis, among others.
Also speaking, the president, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, UK South, Mrs Susan Waya, agreed that the Diaspora Voting Bill should be passed, given the humongous amount of money sent into the country as remittances from the Diaspora.
Mrs Waya also emphasised the essential of the Diaspora as she disclosed that, in 2018 alone, home remittances from Nigerians in London was recorded at $2.8 billion.
She lauded Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her efforts and vision for Nigerians in the Diaspora and wish her more achievements in the coming years.
This year’s celebration will have the presidential address to Nigerians in the Diaspora, thematic discussions, goodwill and solidarity messages, showcase of some diaspora projects and talks from Diaspora role models.
There will also be a special segment, titled: “Home Strings”, targeted at second and third generations Diaspora, as part of the activities lined up for the celebrations.
The 2022 National Diaspora Day will be a hybrid event that looks at celebrating Nigerians in the Diaspora, networking and facilitating engagement between the Diaspora and public office, government, private and corporate organisations, as well as other major stakeholders.
The National Diaspora Day is an annual event being celebrated by Nigerians globally on the 25th of July of every year.
