The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, says the best platform to strategically engage with Nigerian Diasporas who are agents of Change, innovations, investments and social transformation, is the establishment of the State Diaspora Focal Point Offices and Officers’ Summit across the Country.
Governor Otu stated this at the 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers Summit in Calabar, Cross River State. He was represented by the Deputy Governor Rt. Hon Peter Odey
According to a statement signed by Gabriel Odu, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NIDCOM, the governor also stressed that the vision of Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), is to promote and harness the capacity and resources of Cross Riverians in the Diaspora for overall National Development.
Otu highlighted that Cross River State is delighted to host the Summit of like minds in the Canaan City (people’s paradise). He noted that the 2021 National Diaspora Policy provides a framework for effective engagement with Nigerians abroad for National Development.
The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed that the idea of the Symmit is to strengthen the issues of the Diaspora through the States.
“The Diaspora cannot be ignored anymore in Nigeria “.
Dabiri-Erewa thanked President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the efforts, intentions pivotal to Diaspora issues Diaspora. She urged State Governments to continue to support the Focal Point Officers to achieve Diasporic dividends.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora, NGOs and Civil Societies, Sen Bassey Aniekan, represented by the Deputy Chairman, Sen Anthony Yaro described the Nigerian Diaspora as the new economic window, greatest assets, Skills, knowledge and global networks, vital to National Development. According to him,
“Strengthening the states and our Diaspora will not only drive growth but also deepen unity and shared prosperity across our Nation”, he stated.
Also in the same vein, the Chairman House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon Tochukwu Okere maintained that the impact of the Diasporas is evident across the states through Developmental programmes; projects, and remittances as shown by the Central Bank of Nigeria hitting over $20 billion dollars annually.
The Chairman, Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), Prince Otu Okor stated that the Summit, the first in Calabar, is a landmark event towards engaging Cross River State Diaspora Community. He noted that Cross River State is proud to host the SDFPOs Summit and the first to float the Diaspora Commission modeled after the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), Focal Point Officers from Akwa Ibom, Benue, Enugu, Niger,FCT, Kogi, Ekiti, Edo, Cross River State and other strategic partners attended the 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers Summit held in Calabar.
The theme for the Summit is “Nigerians in Diaspora as Agents for positive Image of Nigeria and State involvement as a platform for Diaspora Engagement in National Development”.
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