The Nigerians in diaspora’s huge contributions both at home and abroad
were some of the issues discussed at the interactive session between
Senate Committee on diaspora and the newly appointed Senior Special
Assistant to the President on diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa at the Senate building.
The forum noted with pride the enormous potentials and great talents being exhibited by Nigerians in diaspora but under-utilised by their host countries. According to
Abike Dabiri ‘We know that the talents and potentials of Nigerians in
diaspora have been grossly under-utilised. We must have a diaspora
policy and that will be as soon as possible in order to achieve all
that we set out to achieve”. “We don’t have a database for Nigerians
in diaspora, we also need diaspora research. It is critical we have a
database for Nigerians in diaspora. We must also have a diaspora
commission and so we appeal to the senate to pass the Bill before it”.
Dabiri Erewa said. The Chairman Senate Committee on diaspora, Senator
Rose Okoji Oko in her submission said “We are looking at some key
areas that are critical to our economy. From what we hear from
executive, issues on diaspora is being mentioned more than ever
before. We both need to harness resources to coordinate the activities
of diasporans. I have reintroduced the Diaspora commission bill and
has gone to second reading”. The Nigerians in diaspora commission bill
was first conceived by Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa during her time in the 7th Assembly.
