Abike Dabiri-Erewa
Hmmm....... The
official number of Nigerians currently living abroad has been revealed
by the office of the SSA to the President on Foreign Affairs and
Diaspora.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs
and The Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Thursday announced that
there were currently about 15 million Nigerians in various parts of the
world.
Dabiri-Erewa made the announcement at the Island Club, Lagos, in a lecture entitled: “Nigerians in The Diaspora: Strengths and Challenges in Pursuit of National Development’’.
The Senior Special Assistant said that Nigerians living in the
different countries of world were not all completely bad, but many of
them were doing “excellently well’’ in their professions.
“We have found out that there are currently about 15 million Nigerians in the Diaspora.
“We have Nigerians in different parts of the world. Although,
we have the good, the bad and the ugly, Nigeria has proud stories to
share of many of her Diaspora nationals.
“Let us always celebrate the good things that many of our globally celebrated Nigerians in the Diaspora are doing today,’’ she said.
Dabiri-Erewa said that the Federal Government was working at
engaging Nigerians in the Diaspora in contributing to the socio-economic
transformation of the country.
She also said that the government was looking at the possibility,
under the presidential initiative for excellence, to make Nigerian
medical doctors abroad, to come home during their vacations, to enhance
national healthcare delivery.
The senior special assistant said that the establishment of a
Commission for Nigerians in the Diaspora, would help government the
harness the potential of Nigerians living outside the country.
“We are also looking at the possibility of having a Commission for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
“We need an institution to deal with Nigerians in the Diaspora,
otherwise, we will just be paying lip service to issues concerning such
Nigerians,’’ she said.
Dabiri-Erewa said that the government was also working on a system
that would sensitise young Nigerians aspiring to travel abroad on
possibilities and challenges in such countries.
Amb. Segun Akinsanya, the Dean of The Diplomatic Corner, one of the
conveners of the Lecture, said that the event was organised to
stimulate public interest and reactions to the welfare of Nigerians
abroad.
Akinsanya described Dabiri-Erewa as an accomplished journalist and broadcaster, and a voice for the voiceless.
The lecture brought together former Nigerian Ambassadors to various
countries of the world, who used the opportunity to ask Dabiri-Erewa
pertinent questions on Nigeria’s foreign policy and the welfare of
Nigerians abroad.
The well-attended lecture was jointly organised by the Diplomatic
Corner and the Centre Table Group of the Island Club, a premier elite
club in Lagos.
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