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Chairman, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa
The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said diaspora remittances are the highest source of foreign exchange to Nigeria.
The NIDCOM CEO spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday at the Afe Babalola University Convocation in a lecture titled, “Diaspora engagements for National Development” as part of activities for the 12th convocation ceremonies of the institution.
Dabiri-Erewa said that citizens in the diaspora “are engaged either as individuals or as groups in all sectors of the Nigerian economy. There are many other commercial initiatives by Nigerians in the diaspora worth millions of dollars contributing positively to the gross domestic product and national development.”
The NIDCOM boss said that “diaspora remittances are the highest source of foreign exchange to Nigeria and contribute more to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic than oil”, saying, “according to CBN, in July 2024, Nigeria recorded $553m diaspora remittance, the highest ever.”
She advised against unnecessary migration from the country in the name of ‘Japa’, saying that there was no point in travelling out of the country of frustration.
She said that NIDCOM, through its programmes, has been addressing the diaspora engagements challenges which included the huge trust deficit among Nigerians in the Diaspora, those in Nigeria and the government.
Dabiri-Erewa called on Nigerians in the diaspora to join hands with the commission to complement government efforts in attaining sustainable development, saying, “If we all unite with a single purpose to develop Nigeria.”
She canvassed collaboration between Nigerian universities and citizens in the diaspora on staff and student exchange programmes.
Dabiri-Erewa said that the student exchange programmes should target the second and third generation of Nigerians in the diaspora “who can bring unique perspectives to the university communities.”
She said that “ABUAD and Nigerians in the diaspora can collaborate by implementing staff and student exchange programmes, collaborative research that address global challenges and sabbaticals to Nigerian diaspora lecturers.”
According to her, the collaboration will provide staff and students of the university with experience in a different educational setting and cultural context while also leveraging the diverse expertise of diaspora researchers to promote knowledge exchange.
Dabiri-Erewa, who hailed ABUAD over the linkage with Kings College London which would allow ABUAD students to liaise with other world universities and as well access the institutions from their campus, added, “I encourage the university to establish a Diaspora Centre of Excellence which can offer courses in diaspora-related issues and also serve as a research centre.”
ABUAD founder, Afe Babalola said that the country is blessed with both human and natural resources, urging citizens, especially the youth, to shun the idea of leaving the country for greener pastures abroad.
He said, “ABUAD, in the last 15 years, has impacted on the nation’s education and health sectors, which has made local and international organisations rate the university as the best in the country and the world.
“Let me say that Africans are born to lead the world. We have built a university that has been rated first in the world and a hospital adjudged the best in Africa in less than 15 years. My students are the best and next to make this country great.”
