The Nigerian Diaspora in the UK welcome the appointment of Hon. Abike Dabiri as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs & Diaspora as appropriate and are eager to engage her to achieve a common purpose.
Some British MPs of Nigerian heritage joined their colleagues in the All-Party Parliamentary Groups, an informal group made up of members of the House of Commons and Lords on a mission to Nigeria. Going by the discussions trending on Facebook it is obvious some do not believe the British MPs represent the views of majority in the Nigerian community in the UK.
On African Voice Forum this week, we take reactions from community leaders highlighting some expectations from the current administration in Nigeria regarding the Diaspora.
Hon Abike Dabiri’s role as the SAA Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to PMB is challenging, but significant in building trust and strengthening relations between Nigeria and her diaspora.
Arguably, Nigeria faces its toughest economic challenges since independence in 1960. At the national level, it must overcome its over-reliance on petroleum for revenue. The implication for Nigeria is to look inwards for economic revival by harnessing her natural and human resources appropriately and sustainably. And at the global level, it needs to attract major investors including from the Nigerian diaspora in order to achieve the lofty aims of the economy diversification agenda. The Nigerian diaspora have not only the capacity, but are also willing to help judging from the numerous small projects and charity activities some of them have been doing in Nigeria.
However, there is a need for concerted efforts that will pull their resources to achieve massive growth. This is why it is imperative for Nigeria to launch a National Project Renewal (NPR) that will twin Nigerian diaspora communities with Nigerian villages to help develop them through the provision of social amenities. A similar project was successfully established during the 1980s to allow Israeli diaspora to help in the refurbishment of working class Israeli cities. The reason why I prioritise villages over cities is to redress the concentration of amenities in urban centres which caused the influx of youths, population congestion and pressure on social resources.
It is ironic that that the villages that provide the food for the teeming population in urban centres have been left in a sorry state of neglect with bad roads, poor electricity and water supply. No wonder farmers struggle to get their produce to the market and no wonder they have a diminishing capacity to produce more food as their average age hovers above 56 years. However, village regeneration is essential to the economy diversification agenda. This will include changing the mind set of Nigerians, especially the youths, to motivate them to take up farming and teaching in rural communities. This is where the Nigerian diaspora could help by contributing their expertise and acting as role models for young people.
The NPR should prioritise programmes such as education, health and agriculture because these sectors are essential to growth, prosperity, food security and wellbeing of Nigerians. It could be funded through social investment bonds which will enable Nigerian diaspora to become social investors in partnership with the government. Social investors could invest cash or expertise and will get a certificate and a chance to be nominated to receive a national award for outstanding contribution, performance and services. The socio-economic challenges demand that all Nigerians make sacrifices and give something back to the country. This is the time to stand up and be counted. Are you ready?
By: Dr Ola Ogunyemi, Principal Lecturer in Journalism, University of Lincoln, UK.
There is no doubt that Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa performed wonderfully well as the immediate past Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora Matters in the 7th National Assembly, especially on matters affecting Nigerians in diaspora. Therefore, her appointment as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora is a welcome development.
However, her appointment as the SSA on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora by President Muhammadu Buhari have reinforced my belief that each state in Nigeria should have an office on foreign and diaspora matters. While the Federal Government have blazed the trail in appointing a SSA on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, it is my suggestion that such appointment should be extended to each of the thirty-six states in Nigeria. The task ahead the SSA is enormous, but since she is in a familiar terrain, her past position as the Chairman of House Committee on Diaspora matters should place her in good stead. Also, there is no doubt that the expectations of Nigerians in diaspora from the government are high, we hope and wish for a better performance over and above her previous achievement.
So what is our expectations from the Nigerian government in relation to those of us in diaspora? About a week ago, the President in response to a Daily Telegraph reporter’s question said that Nigeria and indeed Nigerians have image problems. While we cannot shy away from this fact, the main reason why some people accused the president of criminalising his own citizens in that interview was because he did not in any way recognise the efforts of majority of Nigerians who are honest, hardworking, law abiding, and as such, are positively contributing to the image of Nigeria in diaspora.
The SSA on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora must therefore put in place necessary machineries that will at all time emphasise the positive contributions of Nigerians in diaspora, rather than the negative. She must device a means whereby government leaders, whether in the executive, legislative, and the judiciary, must not make it a habit of harping on the negatives of Nigerians in diaspora without acknowledging the goodness of the majority diasporas. Her office must make sure that our leaders, especially in relation to those of us in diaspora must always remember to acknowledge the honest and hardworking Nigerians in diaspora, who are making positive contributions to Nigeria and the world at large.
When the SSA on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora was the Chairman House Committee on Diaspora matters, one agenda that was top on the list then was her drive to achieve ‘voting rights for Nigerians in diaspora’. As the SSA on foreign affairs and diaspora, the issue of diaspora voting for Nigerians outside the country must be given special attention to enable us perform our civic duties in terms of voting. The opportunity is now for the SSA to achieve what she was unable to achieve in terms of voting rights for Nigerians in diaspora during her tenure as Chairman House Committee on Diaspora. Hopefully this time around, she would put this agenda on overdrive so that Nigerians in diaspora shall be able to vote during the 2019 general elections.
It is a known fact that Nigerians with high professional and business skills are not in short supply in the diaspora. The SSA must provide an avenue through which her office and these professionals can regularly engage each other in areas of common interest for the benefit of our country Nigeria. Doing that will also bring out the best of us in diaspora and project a positive image for our dear nation through press releases from the SSA highlighting the positive achievements of Nigerians in diaspora, especially to the media in western world that only project Nigeria and Nigerians negatively.
Otunba Tajudeen Obafemi Adenuga is the CEO, Femade (UK) Limited
The Nigerian Diaspora is currently in disarray but this is because our country does not have a policy to drive the engagement of its Diaspora like other nations where the Diaspora contributes meaningfully to national development. Nigerians abroad are reputed to be some of the most educated and skilled workforce in any part of the world where they find themselves. Recently, it was reported that Nigerians in America are indeed the most educated people in America. The father of the most brilliant children in the UK is a Nigerian. Unfortunately, Nigerians have not been able to capitalize on their God given talents for the betterment of their country. This means that we do excel individually but always struggle when it comes to working together as one body. In countries like Israel and India the Diaspora are known to be major stakeholders in their country but the Nigerian Diaspora is still groping in the dark, partly because of their lack of cohesion on one hand and more importantly because of the lack of help from home to help move things to the next level. The resilience of this important group is so significant that in spite of the confusion, Diaspora remittances to Nigeria are still the highest in sub Saharan Africa. It is so huge that some people have compared it to the national budget of Nigeria on annual basis. I personally believe like others that the establishment of a Diaspora Commission will turn things around in no time. Many believe that it will be great for the government to lead the way and to help create a platform for the engagement of her Diaspora by establishing the much talked about Diaspora commission. The Diaspora commission when established will become the platform for the engagement of the Diaspora. People in the Dispora can then take all their issues to this commission. The newly appointed Special Assistant to Mr President, Madam Abike Dabiri is known to be an action lady and I am sure will push for the establishment of this body. The new Chair of the House Committee on Diaspora, Hon Rita Orji is a known hardworking action lady who all believe will work together with the adviser to the President to push for this commission.. When established, this body will trigger other activities like Diaspora Voting and several other issues waiting to be resolved.
Bimbo Roberts Folayan FIIM, (MBCS CITP)
Executive Director, Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit
(NDDIS) is the Immediate Past Chairman, (2011-2015), Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK).
Abike Dabiri-Arewa’s appointment as SSA to the President is a great news. Whilst we hope for more women at the President’s top job, I do not see her appointment as a token for women. As chairperson on Diaspora Affairs during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration she has the qualification and experience which makes her the right person for the job.
President Buhari is keen on cleaning out Nigerian corrupt politicians and officers, I believe that Abike is one of the politicians whose name has not been linked with corrupt practices.
She is a patriotic Nigerian who will maintain a positive image of Nigeria.
She is fair and inclusive and was one of the members of the House of Representatives who stands for the right of the masses.
As a Diaspora I would like to be able to vote in all elections in Nigeria. This is one of the main tasks I would like her to achieve during her tenure.
Cllr. Kate Anolue is former Mayor of London borough of Enfield.
Nigerians in the diaspora have many expectations from the government of Nigeria, issues cutting across Politics, Economy and Nation building in general. But the very issues I will like to raise here are:
Voting Rights for Nigerians in the Diaspora: I believe in this day and age of technological advancement, we should be given opportunity to be part of the electoral process that produce our leaders in the country. A sense of belonging is the heart of nation building. Our voices should be heard on matters affecting us and our children. The federal government should favourably consider an integrated ballot system for Nigerians in diaspora so we could be given the opportunity to be part of electing those that governs our nation.
Good governance: We are convinced that good governance is the heart of Nation building, therefore the government should endeavour to appoint the right people in position of authorities so that our nation building agenda can be actualised and not truncated. The right mind-set is needed to move our nation forward economically, politically and in all ramifications. Nigerians in the diaspora should be encouraged through media and publicity campaign to be part of the current nation building agenda, I believe very strongly, that there is a huge untapped talents in terms of skills and experience that lies amongst Nigerians in diaspora which could be tapped into and used positively towards an accelerated nation building program in the country.
We in the diaspora would like to have a solid consultative and collaborative discussion forums on matters affecting Nigerians in the diaspora especially issues like Immigration, welfare and investment strategies. We want our voices to be heard through the office of the SSA and our ideas incorporated into the government Nation building agenda. We would also want a structure in place that will support a frame work of frequent dialogue with the government to harness the entrepreneurship skills and the investment capacities of Nigerians in the diaspora. I can confidently say that there are a lot of human resources and talents that can be tapped into amongst quality Nigerians in the diaspora. Men and women of integrity and good standing in the community. Such consultative collaborative forum should be periodical and should take place both in Nigeria and the UK. An independent committee from all works of life should be set up here in the UK to facilitate these consultative and collaborative forum. It will be of great mutual benefit to form a bridge between Diaspora entrepreneurs and Nigerian based entrepreneurs and encourage an alliance which will help develop stronger and better business ideas which will in turn contribute and enhance rapid economic growth and development of our nation Nigeria.
Pastor James Ademuyiwa FNAEA MARLA CPEA is a UK based faith leader.
Nigeria has a vibrant youth demography amongst the diaspora hungry for more contact with the homeland. It would be great to have a Youth Exchange Program primarily focused on building leadership skills, learning and exploring cultures.
By keeping our youths engaged, anchored and experienced, we strive to make them socially conscious and well-rounded high achieving Nigerians in an increasing global village.
The youths are our future. Abike Dabiri is known to believe in youth integration and upholding cultural values. I welcome her nomination and congratulate her sincerely with all best wishes and God’s guidance.
Ronke Udofia is a member of the Nigerian Women in Leadership Forum (NWIDLF) UK.
