NiD M NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA COMMISSION NATIONAL DIASPORA DAY REMINISCENCES OF 2021: A THREE DAY NATIONAL DIASPORA EMPOWERMENT DAY 2021 PROGRAMME IN A WOMAN’S MIGHT ENUGU STATE MEET A DIASPORAN NIGERIAS ENVOY TO KSA ASSURES OF SUSTAINED BDC VS CBN: ENGAGEMENT WITH IMPLICATIONS ON THE NIGERIANS IN OIC, ISDB NIGERIAN ECONOMY DID YOU KNOW Fashion TOUR NIGERIA SEE YOUR THE POWER OF THE DIASPORA AS UNTAPPED ‘OIL’ RESOURCE NIGERIAN DIASPORA JULY EDITION VOL. 13. 2021 J U L Y E D I T I O N V O L . 1 3 . 2 0 2 1 D I A S P O R A N E W S L E T T E R REMINISCENCES OF NATIONAL DIASPORA DAY 2021 Abdur-Rahman Balogun are a thing of the past as we have many Nigerians projecting the good name of the country and are being celebrated by the Commission from time to time. In his keynote speech declaring the Day open, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada recognised the resilience and show of patriotism from the Diasporas as a force to reckon with. He reassured them of the Federal Government’s pledge to create an enabling environment and to adopt policies Presentation of the National Diaspora Policy during the that will ensure their safety and well-being.Dada National Diaspora Day celebration. disclosed how the Federal Government has taken a step in this direction through the approval and he 15th National Diaspora Day since adoption of the National Diaspora Policy 2021 and inception in 2006 and the third in the series its Action Plans for a more holistic approach in the Tsince the establishment of Nigerians in Nation’s engagement with Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in May 2019 had Diaspora.The National Diaspora Policy which was come and gone on Sunday July 25, but the approved and unveiled in May 2021, aims to memories lingers on in the minds of all the provide a comprehensive and supporting stakeholders. So, it was not a mere coincidence framework for facilitating Diaspora engagement in that the theme of hybrid virtual 2021 National national development, empowering the Diaspora Diaspora Day where over 3000 participated was: to contribute effectively, and maximising the value “Diaspora Integration for National Peace and of diaspora contributions to Nigeria’s Development”. In recognition of the diaspora’s development. contribution to national development, the 2021 virtual celebration in the form of a webinar was One of the exciting aspect of this year’s National organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Diaspora Day was the engagement of the Director- C o m m i s s i o n ( N I D C O M ) , t h e t w o - y e a r General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr old Commission which provides a platform to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who joined the webinar from engage Nigerians in the diaspora in policies, Geneva by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa herself projects and participation in the socio-economic, reminiscencing her broadcasting skills to cultural and political development of the interrogate her in a lively interview on her life country.Welcoming all participants to outside Nigeria, her new job, diaspora voting and the National Diaspora Day, Hon. Abike Dabiri- challenges facing the women folks in the topmost Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM said the cadre. Iweala, who repeatedly said she missed theme chosen for the Day was apt in linking peace Nigeria so much, commended Nigerians in the and development to diaspora integration. diaspora for their contribution to national development, particularly through their She called on the National Assembly to promulgate remittances which have been critical in sustaining the much-anticipated law that would grant voting the country’s economy and in the socio-economic rights to Nigerians in the diaspora and urged the upliftment of households in terms of food, latter to be good ambassadors for their homeland housing, education and small and medium-sized in their host countries and share good practices enterprises, to name but a few.Given the current with Nigerians at home. The NIDCOM boss used economic and security challenges confronting the opportunity to debunk the negative Nigeria, Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigerians in the stereotypes associated with Nigeria and Nigerians diaspora to do more towards the socio-economic living abroad, noting that the erroneous global development of their homeland. She noted that opinion of Nigerians as fraudsters and drug dealers she had leveraged her position to explore how J U L Y E D I T I O N V O L . 1 3 . 2 0 2 1 D I A S P O R A N E W S L E T T E R Nigeria can take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to attract investment, condemn vaccine nationalism and encourage vaccine production on the continent, as well as urge key manufacturers to remove trade restrictions and invest in Nigeria and Africa. Speaking in the same vein, another great Nigeria diasporan, Amina Mohammed , Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), argued that the Nigerian diaspora has a critical The Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa after role to play towards the attainment of peace and a test drive of the 1st Nigerian assembled the electric development in their homeland as their vehicle, during the event. experience, networks and resources can help debunk anti-Nigerian sentiments and they are well anchored by Hajia Aisha Dan-Kano with placed to project positive narratives of Africa, participants like Mubarak Marafa, Chisom Ilogu, sensitise people on human rights issues and Adedasola Adeniyi and Ajibola Erogbogbo from mobilise investment. Like Okonjo-Iweala, she Americas, Europe and Asia.The Diaspora day also illustrated that diasporic remittances had been witnessed other presentations such as pivotal in reducing poverty and fulfilling the socio- the first Nigerian assembled electric vehicle by economic needs of Nigerian households. She Engr. Jelani Aliyu which was test run by Hon. Abike added that the diaspora would be instrumental in Dabiri-Erewa to the admiration of all and Nigeria’s economic recovery from the ongoing presentation on the forthcoming third Nigerian COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights of the day Diaspora Investment Summit Initiative by Dr (Ms) included a panel discussion from the invited Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, presentation by the diasporic organisations, such as the Nigerians in state Diaspora Focal point Officers and Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) worldwide, Dr simultaneous cutting of 2021 Diaspora Day cake by Bashir Obasekola, NIDO –UK South, Barr. Chibuzor Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Ubochi, NIDO Asia/ Middle East, Dr Abbas Ell-Gujja and staff, Amb. Prof. Abdullahi Yibaikwai Shehu as from Saudi Arabia, Nigerian-American Public well as Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and others in the Affairs Committee (NAPAC) Mr Segun Adeyina, the venue hosting the event. It must however be Central Association of Nigerians in the United mentioned here that there were goodwill messages Kingdom (CANUK), Mr Ayo Akinfe, the Nigerian from both the Senate Committee Deputy Chairman and Canadian Business Network (NCBN), Mr Wale on Diaspora Matters, Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe as well Adesanya and Prof Lawal Marafa , Director as Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Chairman, House Postgraduate Programme in Sustainable Tourism, of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs The Chinese University of Hong Kong, with each and Chief of Mission, International Organization setting out their contribution to peace and for Migration (IOM) Mr Frantz Celestin and Dr development in Nigeria and the challenges Mojisola Sodeinde , Head International Centre for they are encountering in their respective Migration Policy Development West Africa, which continents .Others include Home String- An added colour to the event. Similarly, the i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h uniqueness of 2021 National Diaspora Day was the the second and third generation of Diaspora, unveiling of two key initiatives by making public the National Diaspora Policy and the National Diaspora Merit Award as well as wonderful performances from the duo of a great Saxophonist Revy Sax and Ice Prince Zamani, a top rapper and a hip pop Singer. The 2021 National Diaspora Policy’s vision is “to effectively promote and harness the capacity and resources of Nigerians in the Diaspora for the growth and the development of the nation”; while its mission is “to empower Nigerians in the Diaspora as change agents for the development of Nigeria through promoting a framework for them to maximise their Cultural performance during the National Diaspora Day potentials in capital, knowledge, and networks”; celebration. and its goal is “constructive engagement of J U L Y E D I T I O N V O L . 1 3 . 2 0 2 1 D I A S P O R A N E W S L E T T E R Award should be commended. One of the take away of the Day was to create a business-friendly environment geared towards attracting more diasporic remittances and foreign direct investment as well as address the plight of Nigerians abroad. It is also geared towards improving the situation by galvanizing Nigerians in the diaspora to do more than they have been doing for their country. The 2021 National Diaspora Day was therefore an opportunity for the various stakeholders to fashion out ways to return Entertainment! Ice Prince performing at the event. remittances to pre-COVID era and ensure that nothing rocks the boat. The need therefore to share ideas and techniques that will assist the Nigerians in the Diaspora for sustainable national country in their Post COVID-19 recovery process is development”. The National Diaspora Merit very important as a peaceful environment is the Award, which was announced at the meeting, on best to deliver national development.