By Nkechi Eze
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has described Nigerians in the Diaspora as powerful agents of change, innovation, investment, and social transformation whose potentials must be strategically harnessed for national development.
In an official statement issued by Gabriel Odu of the Media and Public Relations Unit of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Governor Otu made this assertion while declaring open the 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers (SDFPO) Summit held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, said the establishment of State Diaspora Focal Point Offices and the annual summit provides the most effective platform to engage and empower Nigerians abroad in driving transformative change at home.
According to Governor Otu, the vision of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM) is to promote and harness the capacity, creativity, and resources of Cross Riverians in the Diaspora for the overall development of the state and the nation at large. He expressed delight that Calabar, fondly known as the Canaan City, was hosting a gathering of “like minds” dedicated to deepening diaspora engagement.
The Governor also noted that the 2021 National Diaspora Policy offers a clear framework for effective engagement with Nigerians abroad, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to national growth and development.
In her remarks, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the summit was designed to strengthen collaboration between the Commission and State Governments in managing diaspora affairs. She emphasized that Nigerians in the Diaspora have become too influential to be ignored, describing them as “a critical force in shaping the nation’s image and driving economic development.”
“The Diaspora cannot be ignored anymore in Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa declared, while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its commitment and policies aimed at advancing diaspora engagement. She urged State Governments to continue supporting their Focal Point Officers to ensure that the dividends of diaspora contributions are fully realized.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora, NGOs and Civil Societies, Senator Bassey Aniekan, represented by the Deputy Chairman, Senator Anthony Yaro, described the Nigerian Diaspora as “the new economic window” and one of the nation’s greatest assets. He highlighted their skills, knowledge, and global networks as vital tools for national transformation, stating that “strengthening the states and our Diaspora will not only drive growth but also deepen unity and shared prosperity across our nation.”
On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, emphasized that the impact of Nigerians abroad is already visible through developmental programmes, projects, and remittances across the states. He referenced data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showing annual diaspora remittances exceeding $20 billion, describing it as a testament to their immense contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
The Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), Prince Otu Okor, in his remarks, described the hosting of the summit in Calabar as a landmark achievement in the state’s quest to strengthen engagement with its diaspora community. He noted that Cross River was proud to be the first state to establish a Diaspora Commission modeled after NIDCOM, positioning it as a pioneer in subnational diaspora engagement.
The 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers Summit, themed “Nigerians in Diaspora as Agents for Positive Image of Nigeria and State Involvement as a Platform for Diaspora Engagement in National Development,” brought together delegates from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as well as Focal Point Officers from Akwa Ibom, Benue, Enugu, Niger, FCT, Kogi, Ekiti, Edo, and Cross River States, among other strategic partners.
The summit reaffirmed the growing consensus that Nigerians abroad represent an invaluable force for national renewal, innovation, and sustainable development, one that must be continuously cultivated through strong partnerships between NIDCOM, State Governments, and global institutions.
