From Our Correspondent
For Africa to experience socio-economic resurgence, prosperity and development, the onus lies with Africans at home and more importantly its Diaspora.
Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated this when she received a Zimbabwean in Abuja.
TheNewsZenith reports that the delegation led by its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Maxwell Ranga, came on a study tour of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed joy that more African States are beginning to recognise the worth of their Diasporas.
She said the Diasporas are the catalysts for a progressive continent and cannot be ignored.
According to her, this intentionality can produce a synergy between Africans and Africans in the diaspora, to proffer solutions that will revive the socio-economic situation and building the Africa of our dreams.
The NIDCOM boss said she was delighted at the Zimbabwean Government’s interest in its Diaspora.
She explained that NiDCOM, being the official agency for diaspora relations and engagement in Nigeria, has taken pragmatic steps to engage and empower the Nigerian Diaspora.
Dabiri-Erewa, therefore, urged the Zimbabwean Government to create an agency that deals strictly with her diaspora.
”It is not about the numbers but what they are able to do,” she added.
The dedicated agency, she said, should be a strong environment that will engage, enable and empower the Zimbabwean Diaspora, effectively.
”Here, we find regular means of celebrating our diasporas and tell the world that not all Nigerians are frauds.
”Most times, the western media are quick to spread the negative stories about Nigeria but hardly will you see such energy when something good is done by a Nigerian.
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“Therefore, it is up to us to tell the world who we truly are as Nigerians”, she remarked.
Earlier, Amb. Maxwell Ranga, Zimbabwean High Commissioner to Nigeria, had lauded Nigeria’s tactical engagement with her diaspora for nation building.
Ranga commended Dabiri-Erewa for bringing the Nigerian Diaspora closer home and also the entire continent.
”We are here to learn from the best, our big brother, Nigeria and we happy to be here”, he said.
The envoy stressed that this action was key to replicate the Nigerian model in Zimbabwe, in terms of diaspora relations and engagement.
Amb. Ranga informed that Zimbabwe had its first Investment Forum and Homecoming event, last year.
The event, he said, drew all Zimbabweans worldwide.
He expressed his desire to have the NiDCOM Boss as a guest speaker at the second edition which will hold in April, this year.
Mrs Sienzeni Mateta, Director of Bilateral Trade and Diaspora in the Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, stated that the country has invested in this project to properly harness the material, intellectual and human resources in terms of diaspora engagement for national development.
Zimbabwe is the eighth country that has visited Nigeria to understudy NIDCOM.
Other countries were Ethiopia, Tanzania Namibia, Ghana, South Korea and Southetn African Development Community (SADC).
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