The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has emphasised the need for Nigerian states to strengthen engagement with citizens living abroad, describing the Diaspora community as a key driver of innovation, investment, and social transformation.
Otu made this known during the 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers’ Summit held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, Otu said the creation of State Diaspora Focal Point Offices remains the most strategic platform to connect effectively with Nigerians abroad and harness their potential for national development.
“The best platform to strategically engage with the Nigerian Diaspora, who are agents of change, innovation, and social transformation, is through the establishment of State Diaspora Focal Point Offices and Officers’ Summits across the country,” he stated.
In a statement signed by Gabriel Odu, Media and Public Relations Officer at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Otu reaffirmed Cross River’s commitment to promoting and utilising the capacity of its Diaspora citizens through the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM).
He explained that CRIDCOM’s mission aligns with the 2021 National Diaspora Policy, which provides a framework for engaging Nigerians abroad in meaningful national development.
“Cross River State is delighted to host this summit of like minds here in the Canaan City. The National Diaspora Policy of 2021 gives us a structure for sustainable collaboration with Nigerians abroad,” he said.
Diaspora Cannot Be Ignored – Dabiri-Erewa
In her remarks, the Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised the hosting of the summit, noting that it aimed to strengthen the link between state governments and the Nigerian Diaspora.
“The Diaspora cannot be ignored anymore in Nigeria,” she declared.
She thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continued support toward addressing Diaspora-related issues and urged state governments to empower their focal officers to deliver tangible results.
“State governments must continue to support their focal point officers to ensure that we translate Diaspora engagement into visible dividends,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, NGOs, and Civil Societies, Senator Bassey Aniekan, represented by Deputy Chairman, Senator Anthony Yaro, described the Nigerian Diaspora as the “new economic window” for national progress.
“Our Diaspora community remains one of our greatest assets. Their skills, knowledge, and global networks are vital to national development. Strengthening the states and our Diaspora will drive growth and deepen unity across the nation,” he stated.
Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, highlighted the financial and developmental contributions of Nigerians abroad, noting that remittances hit over $20 billion annually, according to Central Bank of Nigeria data.
“The impact of our Diaspora is visible across the states through development projects and remittances that have exceeded $20 billion every year,” Okere said.
The Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), Prince Otu Okor, said hosting the 4th summit was a landmark event for the state and reaffirmed Cross River’s position as the first state to establish a Diaspora Commission modelled after NIDCOM.
“This summit marks a major milestone for us. Cross River is proud to host the SDFPOs Summit and to be the first state with a Diaspora Commission modelled after NIDCOM,” he stated.
Naijaonpoint reports that the 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 representatives 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.
The gathering concluded with a shared commitment to deepen state-level participation in Diaspora initiatives aimed at boosting investment, promoting national unity, and enhancing Nigeria’s global image.
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