Nigerians in diaspora have recently celebrated its annual diaspora event geared towards mobilizing and engaging Nigerians living outside the country to commit to and support development activities in the country.
The Nigeria Diaspora Day which began in 2015, had as its theme for this year, “Harnessing the Potentials of the Diaspora for National Development.”
Speaking at the event Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by his Special adviser on economic matters Oluyemi Dipeolu commended the Nigerians in the diaspora for the inflow of over $21 billion remittances into the country in 2015 alone.
He urged the Nigerians whom he described as ‘sources of foreign direct investments and remittances’ to make the most of the available human and natural resources in the country with a view to boosting national economic development. He also revealed that the federal government is keen to float in a diaspora bond primarily to create the platform by which Nigerians in the diaspora can make concerted investments in the country.
Other speakers at the event were, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
He minced no words in instructing the Diaspora to identify, commit and pursue specific projects of their choice as part of their contributions to national development, while also reiteration Government’s commitment in this regard.
“Our diaspora professionals are now being actively engaged to ensure that their skills, expertise and resources are harnessed for national development…, while others are constantly persuaded to intervene in new and on-going development projects in the country,” he said.
The Pioneer Coordinator, Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS), Ambassador Joe Keshi in his keynote address said he believes that the diaspora should be anxiously engaged, adding that Federal and State governments should create conducive environments to enable the diaspora come into the country for investments.
On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs lauded the contributory efforts of Nigerians in the Diaspora, as he further called on them to avail themselves of the database as put together by the Ministry.
The database he said would help returning diaspora to upload their details and indicate their areas of specialty where their skills and talents are most suitable.
Source: TV360nigeria.com
