Abuja, Dec. 21, 2024 – Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor, and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), have expressed delight at the increasing home remittances by Nigerians abroad.
The commendations came after the reports of the diaspora remittances by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which reported the increase from $336.61 million in September 2024 to $402.38 million in October 2024.
They expressed the delight at the ConnectEDiaspora Fireside Chat 2024 in collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM’s) Homestrings Programme in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu, the Special Guest of Honour, advised Nigerians in the Diaspora to love the country and its culture in order to preserve their identity.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat , also advised them to investigate their the environment, identify opportunities, and contribute their quota to national development.
He shared his experience on how he returned to Nigeria after working in the United States of America for a few years.
The governor also advised Nigerians abroad to desist from spreading negative narratives about the country, and tasked them to look for opportunities, as foreigners are thriving despite the challenges faced by the country.Â
Also speaking, Abike Dabiri-Erewa advised them to continue to contribute to the nation’s socio-economic development, as many of them were already doing already doing.Â
She said that challenges in the country could only be redressed through the collaboration of Nigerians both at home and abroad.
The NIDCOM boss said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was working assiduously to address the challenges confronting the nation through various pro- active reforms and policies.
The Diaspora Homestrings event, according to her, was aimed at empowering Nigerian youth through innovation and impact.
Speaking on the increase in Diaspora remittances, she praised the remarkable growth in Nigeria’s diaspora remittances, which rose by 61.1 per cent in one year from January to October 2024.
She commended the policies put in place by the CBN and noted that Nigerians in diaspora are also investing in the country as amplified during the recent Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS).
Dabiri-Erewa promised that NiDCOM will continue to be a bridge between Nigerians in the diaspora and Nigeria, adding that the growing trust among Nigerians in the diaspora underscores their continued commitment to contributing to national development.Â
The NiDCOM boss reminded Nigerian diasporas that the Commission is ever ready to foster stronger links with them to rub minds and explore platforms for more opportunities particularly amongst the younger generation of Nigerians abroad.
The first Connected Diaspora event, a networking gathering that brought together younger generation of Nigerians living abroad, was held by NiDCOM’s Homestrings program in partnership with Connected Diaspora led by Siji Abere and Nosa Okunsebor.
They both reiterated their commitment to the training of young Nigerians in technology and digital space through partnership with Innovation hub.
Award winning actress Omotola Jalade Ekehinde, World Chess Champion, Tunde Onakoya ,DG SMEDAN,Charles Odii, Real Estate Mogul, Yemi Edun, Head of the Lagos Diaspora Agency, Jermaine Sanwoolu, were also present as special guests.
They also included Genevieve Nkiruka Wakeley- Jones (Vice Chair of the British Nigeria Law Forum, Dr. Joyce Omatseye Founder AYA NINI Health, Lanre Vigo Co-Founder and CEO Inter Lagos FC and Head of sports management at the Plug.  (GBN)
