The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration is currently working tirelessly to finalize the Diaspora Investment Trust, the Diaspora Mortgage Programme and other initiatives to attract its Diaspora for more positive engagement in the country.
Buhari disclosed this while declaring the 2nd Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS) 2023 open in Abuja on Thursday, the President said the Federal Goverment have risen to the challenge of harnessing Nigerians in Diaspora, for National development.
According to him, “We are engaging with our Diaspora, to create an enabling environment for them to contribute and play active roles in the socio-political and economic development of our nation.
“Implemented several strategies such as Establishment of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and the State Diaspora Focal Point Offices across States of Federation. Also developed a National Diaspora Policy, and a Strategic Action Plan on Diaspora engagement”, added.
Speaking on the theme of the Symposium – “Building Stronger Connections between Africa and the Global Diaspora”, Nigerian leader said it’s imperative for Africans at home and in the Diaspora, to connect and forge a common front and also lay down strategic frameworks to address the challenges arising in the new world emerging order.
While stressing the best approach to connect the Diaspora for sustainable development is to harness its vast human and material resources wherever they may be, whether it be within the continent or in Diaspora, seeking that the objectives of this symposium lead to outcomes that portray to the entire African Diaspora.
“A palpable sense of belonging and homecoming, with an ease of entry and movement for the Diaspora into and within Africa. Most especially, it will indeed be beneficial for an improved collaboration on Diaspora engagement between multilateral organizations.
“Such as the African Union, the European Union, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARRICOM), the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Social Protection Floor (SPF)”, he said.
Therefore, Buhari reminded the organizers and the participants, that the task set for this second meeting, having had the first in Nairobi, Kenya, is laudable and essential to the future prosperity and stability of Africa and its Diaspora.
The President said, “Its success will require robust efforts and resolute commitment by all, in order to lay a solid base for the collaborative efforts that are required to build the socio-economic fortunes of our people”.
He advised that the sectoral themes on Human Capacity Development, Private Sector Development, Women Empowerment, Information, Technology, Brain Gain and Circulation and so on, be mainstreamed into Nigeria’s Diaspora agenda.
While charged the African Diaspora Alliance to remain steadfast as a model platform of connection, among the African Diaspora and Africa’s Institutions and governments.
“As this is coming at the twilight of our administration, may I suggest that this forum be institutionalised as a biannual event, and used as a forum for monitoring and evaluating the progress of Africa’s engagement with its Diaspora”, the President said.
In her welcome address, the Chairman, Global Organizing Committee of the Symposium, Mrs Ibukun Odusote said it’s no longer news for Africa to develop, Africans must work together to achieve it and “like we all have come to agree; only Africans can develop Africa”.
She added that the Symposium is designed to address and proffer implementable solutions to Africa’s most pressing issues. “It also seeks to create an interface between Africa and its Diaspora for the purpose of maximizing partnership and collaboration.
“The 2023 Abuja Symposium is therefore seeking to foster new connections for a stronger Global African Diaspora partnership and also to commemorate International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) which took place in September 2018 in Accra and Cape Coast, Ghana.
“This year’s Symposium and I hope others in the near future, will provide opportunities for Africa to engage with its Diaspora and build upon the first African Diaspora Symposium (ADS-2020), held in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2020.
“And also the 1st Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Diaspora Forum hosted at the 10th Summit of OACPS Heads of State and Government, held in Luanda, Republic of Angola on the 7th of December, 2022”, she noted.
This two-day International event was championed by the African Diaspora Alliance (AfDA) in collaboration of the following co-organizers: the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
And the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), both under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, with mandates of engaging with Diaspora for national development, both nationwide and continent-wide respectively.
