Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora
The Head of Diaspora and Transnational Studies in the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan Dr. Senayon Olaoluwa, has recently stated that the University of Ibadan is set to establish a Diaspora Resource and Research Centre, the first of its kind in Africa.
He made this announcement during his courtesy visit on the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja.
Olaoluwa, who is the coordinator for the proposed centre, said the world class centre was being facilitated by Dabiri-Erewa to aid research on Diaspora development. He also stressed on the importance of Diaspora, pointing that history had shown that economic world powers derived their wealth from their Diasporas.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa on her part disclosed that Nigeria is working on a National Diaspora Policy guideline geared towards regulating all engagements with the Diaspora.
She explained that the policy, when in place, would allow Nigerians in Diaspora to make inputs in policies and programmes of the government, while noting that nothing much could be achieved without a workable policy framework to engage Nigerians in Diaspora.
According to her, Nigerians in the Diaspora are of high importance to the growth and development of the country, also stating that President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to create a good enabling environment both for Nigerians at home and the Diaspora to put hands together to make Nigeria a true great country.
She, therefore, called on all Nigerians in the Diaspora to key into Buhari’s desire to engage them, stressing that the President was ready to work with them to reposition the country.
Dabiri-Erewa promised that the Federal Government through her office was prepared to partner with the proposed research Centre in University of Ibadan
