TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY HON ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA, THE CHAIRMAN/CEO, NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA COMMISSION, NIDCOM, ON THE ANNUAL NATIONAL DIASPORA DAY CELEBRATIONS, THURSDAY JULY 22, 2021 AT NIDCOM’S CONFERENCE HALL, ABUJA.
1.0 INTRODUCTION:
The Federal Government of Nigeria has designated July 25, every year as the National Diaspora Day. The inaugural Diaspora Day Celebration took place on July 25, 2006.
So far, out of the 15years of its establishment, 14 editions have been organised and celebrated. The National Diaspora Day Celebration has also been reaffirmed in the recently adopted and approved National Diaspora Policy 2021. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), under the Chairmanship of Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa has organized and celebrated two editions of the Celebrations.
These were held in 2019 (physically celebrated) and 2020 (by webinar due to COVID-19), and NiDCOM is set to host its third edition on July 25, 2021 by Webinar though with an incident room at the Fraser Suites, Central Business District, Abuja.
2.0 Why celebrate the Diaspora? Why a special day for the Diaspora?
These are pertinent questions agitating the minds of some Nigerians especially those at home.
Gentlemen of the Press, a Country with an estimated demography of about 17 million Nigerians living outside the sovereign boundaries of Nigeria, sending home remittances of about $25 billion US dollars annually, it becomes obvious that this segment of Nigerians deserve recognition and celebration and should not be ignored.
It is also worthy of note that these home remittances are over 83 per cent of the National budget and 6.1 per cent of the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to The World Bank and Price Water Coopers (PWC), these home remittances serve as economic buffers and safety nets to families for: school fees, feeding, hospital bills and many other social support systems.
Thirty Percent of the remittances are channeled into investments including real estate, commercial businesses and others.
Nigerians in the Diaspora should be celebrated, as a fact that many are top level professionals in cutting edge technologies, medicine, engineering, energy, sports, entertainment, media, law, logistics and services, among others.
These achievers have helped to profile Nigeria positively and been celebrated globally by their countries of sojourn. This, naturally should be replicated by their country of birth; a sure way for promoting national integration and drawing them to participate in national development.
It also provides a platform for networking, re-union and stock-taking. It serves as an opportunity for government to engage Nigerians more constructively- be it at macro-economic level or in organized private sector for meaningful national impact and development.
3.0 The National Diaspora Day 2021:
National Diaspora Day 2021 Celebration has as its theme: “DIASPORA INTEGRATION FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT “. The idea is to anchor on the levers of peace to accelerate Diaspora engagement for national growth and development as no nation succeeds in an atmosphere anchored on insecurity as well as hatred and divisive tendencies.
3.1 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, the National Diaspora Day 2021 will be celebrated again via a Webinar. In the 2021 Celebrations, the following events will be highlighted:
(i) The Presentation of the recently approved National Diaspora Policy to the Nigerians in the Diaspora.
(ii) The call for nomination for Awardees for the proposed National Diaspora Merit Award.
(iii) The discussion of the theme of the celebration being “Diaspora Integration for Peace and National Development by eminent Nigerians in the Diaspora.
(iv) “Home String” A presentation on the 2nd and 3rd Generation Nigerians in the Diaspora.
(v). A presentation from the Diaspora Investment Summit Initiative.
3.2 His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR will address the Nigerians in the Diaspora at this event. Other distinguish Nigerians in Diaspora personalities to address the gathering will include:
(i) The Deputy Secretary General, United Nations, Dr Amina Mohammed
(ii) The Director General, World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
(iii) The Director General, National Design and Automotive Commission, Engr. Jelani Aliyu, will be presenting the Nigerian Electric Car at the event.
Other Diaspora Role Models that would be present at the celebrations include:
(i) Lt. Victor Agunbiade from the USA Navy.
(ii) Mr Ikenna Nweke from Japan.
4.0 CONCLUSIONS:
We are therefore inviting you to join the National Diaspora Day 2021 Celebrations via webinar by registering at http//nidcom.gov.ng/diaspora-day-2021/
Let us celebrate our best, especially our ground breaking surgeons, educationists, world class athletes, Engineers, Physicist, best graduating students, inventors, innovators, statesmen and stateswomen, etc. Men and women who have distinguished themselves in their careers in the diaspora and are world champions. The global image of Nigeria and perveyors of global best practices. These are a real catalyst for Nigeria’s development.
5.0 Thank you and God bless you
Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa
Chairman/CEO,
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abuja.
22nd July, 2021.