President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Nigerians within the Diaspora to make extra constructive contributions by bringing their expertise and experience to develop the economic system of Nigeria.
The President stated this on the opening session of 2024 Nationwide Diáspora Day celebration and Nationwide Diáspora Advantage Award in Abuja on Thursday, stressing that Nigeria is among the many high 10 nations with essentially the most worldwide migrants within the World.
Represented by the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, George Akume within the occasion with the theme “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for Nationwide Growth” President Tinubu admitted the complexity and scale of migration of Nigerians globally and suggested them to at all times use correct channels to hunt greener pasture elsewhere.
Citing information, the President famous that 169 million worldwide migrant employees left their nations of origin primarily to hunt work, with Nigeria having a major diaspora inhabitants.
He lamented that the present development the place the youth now embark on migration, a lot of them irregular, has the implications for collective progress and urged residents to not overlook their homeland.
He famous that by initiatives such because the Nigerian Diaspora Fee and presidential city corridor conferences with diaspora communities, engagement with Nigerians within the diaspora is being harnessed for nationwide growth.
Advert
He lauded the Nigerians within the Diaspora for his or her constructive contributions equivalent to remittances of funds, including that Nigeria acquired enormous remittances of over $21 billion final yr from Nigerians within the Diaspora.
In his remarks the Speaker of the Federal Home of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas urged cooperation between the federal government and the Diasporans, citing the constructive outcomes achieved thus far.
The Speaker who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu stated the federal government acknowledged the numerous contributions of Nigerians within the diaspora to the nation’s growth, notably in areas equivalent to schooling, agriculture, ICT, transportation, and healthcare.
He additionally introduced plans to discover methods to grant voting rights to Nigerians within the diaspora, recognizing their relevance to nation-building.
“A constitutional modification invoice has been offered to the Home of Representatives, and the federal government is dedicated to creating progress on this challenge.”
“The diaspora group is in secure fingers and I encourage you to proceed contributing to the nation’s progress.”
“The federal government is dedicated to investing in schooling, healthcare, and infrastructure to retain expert employees and appeal to those that have ventured overseas.”
“The Nationwide Meeting stands able to enact needed legal guidelines to assist the return of expert professionals and contribute to the nation’s progress and implore these within the diaspora to stay dedicated to Nigeria’s progress and spend money on native initiatives,” he added.
…Nigeria Rakes In $99 Billion In 5 Years From Diaspora Remittances
In the meantime, Nigeria reportedly raked in practically $99 billion from Diaspora remittances within the final 5 years.
Chairman of NiDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated this in her handle, including that that the Nationwide Diaspora Day Celebrations prescribed by the Nationwide Diaspora Coverage is put aside to acknowledge, acknowledge and have fun the over 20 million Nigerians within the Diaspora (each the trendy and historic Diaspora) who’re contributing immensely to nationwide growth.
“Let me additionally state that the contributions of the Diaspora group to nationwide growth can’t be over-emphasized. Based on the World Financial institution statistics not too long ago, Nigerian Diaspora has remitted over 99 billion US {dollars} into the system within the final 5 years. That is enormous and extremely commendable.
“Our Diaspora are identified to be exhausting working, extremely productive, patriotic, and resilient. They’re additionally tempo setters of their totally different fields of endeavors. It due to this fact falls on us to have fun our best, not minding that a couple of do fall beneath commonplace.
“Since its institution 5 years in the past, the Nigerians within the Diaspora Fee (NiDCOM) have had a lot to have fun. It is because the fervour and consistency that noticed to the institution of the Fee has been effectively sustained by the legacy workforce that constructed it,” she stated.
The Nationwide Diaspora Day 2024 supplied a platform for Nigerians within the diaspora to have interaction with the federal government and focus on methods to drive nationwide growth. The occasion underscored the federal government’s dedication to diaspora engagement and its recognition of the group’s vital contributions to Nigeria’s progress.
