May can be described as Diaspora month in Nigeria; this, apart from July 25, designated as National Diaspora Day by the federal government, was the month the dream of most fundamentals of diaspora was birthed. It was on May 19, 2019, the hitherto office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs and its occupier, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, transmuted to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) following Senate’s approval and her confirmation as chairman/CEO of the new commission.
It was indeed a dream nurtured when in May 2017 President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill into law through the acting President then Prof Yemi Osinbajo following the eventual passage by the eighth National Assembly. Similarly, it was also in May that the Federal Executive Council ratified the much-awaited National Diaspora Policy, the first of its kind in Nigeria and a holistic policy geared towards engagement of Nigerians in the diaspora in policies, projects and in participation in the development of Nigeria.
So, the formation of NIDCOM through the Act of Parliament, the appointment of Abike Dabiri-Erewa as its pioneer boss, the ratification of National Diaspora Policy by the federal government all took place in the respective years in May as well as the final public presentation and launch of the National Diaspora policy, also took place in May 2021. The stage was set for the commission to justify its establishment, among which is the reduction in the massive exodus of Nigerian professionals abroad in search of greener pasture, thus creating a ‘brain drain’ in the system and stemming the tide and change the narrative to brain-gain through constructive engagement with the Diasporas and tapping their potential for national development.
Not backing down due to daunting challenges starring at it in the face, the commission has been able to live up and even beyond expectations in its two years of existence. It must be mentioned that the Nigerian Diaspora is part and parcel of the population to bring about accelerated economic growth using their resources, intellect and global exposure. They are the real catalyst and asset for economic development of the country.
Since its establishment, a lot of activities have been undertaken to fulfil the mandates of the commission. Such activities include advocacy to states to key into the larger Diaspora movement with the inauguration of Diaspora focal point offices and officers in 33 out of the 36 states of the Federation including the FCT. In May 2021, the focal point officers coordinated by NIDCOM had a successful three-day summit in Abuja, the third in the series since 2019.
NIDCOM also ensured the consolidation of the declaration of July 25 every year, by the federal government as `National Diaspora Day’, a date set aside to recognise and appraise Nigerians in the Diaspora on their contributions to national development. This is to ensure networking, dialogue and constructive interface between Nigerian professionals and experts in the Diaspora and Nigerians at home on development challenges and opportunities. The third in the series will hold on Sunday July 25, 2021 via hybrid and webinar.
Similarly, by Nov. 2021, the commission will be organising the third in the series of Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) in Abuja with other stakeholders from across the globe via webinar thus lubricating the Diasporas interest and participation in investing back home in any sector of their choice. As a follow-up to the summit, on December 18-19, 2019, two young Nigerians resident in Saudi Arabia put together the first Saudi Arabia/Nigeria Investment Forum, an offshoot of the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit in Abuja and it was also a great success.
As part of the commission’s collaborative efforts with other stakeholders, some 19,085 Nigerians were evacuated back home from various countries due to reasons of deportation, human abuses and trafficking, voluntary returnees and effects of Covid-19 from June 2020 to March 2021. Of course, with Nigerians in Diaspora contributing so much to the Nigerian economy, estimated at $25 billion in 2019, it is believed that they deserve to vote. So, the commission is working with the National Assembly and other stakeholders like National Diaspora Voting Council to make this a reality through amendment to the country’s Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The commission through its chairman or her representatives had participated in many activities within and outside the country geared towards advancing the cause of Nigerians in the Diaspora. In line with President Buhari’s desire that the welfare and well-being of Nigerians anywhere in the world is top priority, the commission paid swift intervention visits to many high commissioners and embassies in Abuja to put a stop to the indiscriminate xenophobic killings of Nigerians, discrimination, inhuman treatment, illegal detention among others, insisting that it is highly reprehensible, condemnable and unacceptable.
The commission was at the forefront for the release of Zainab Aliyu on death row by the Saudi Arabian government for alleged drug related offences as well as Ibrahim Ibrahim. The commission intervened positively in rescuing other Nigerians in such dilemma in Malaysia, Oman, U.A.E., China, Brazil, Morocco, Singapore, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Qatar and Ethiopia. One of the objectives of the commission is to have adequate data of Nigerians living abroad for effective planning purposes and the flag off was done in partnership with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) where the enrolment took the commission to some parts of West Africa, Europe, Asia and Americas. This is a continuous exercise under the commission Diaspora Mapping policy.
Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the commission remains active online as a necessary tool to link up with the Nigerians abroad. It was through this effort that the commission launched a portal wherein it coordinated the collation of data of Nigerians stranded abroad and facilitated the evacuation of over 9,000 stranded Nigerians back home in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies. Regrettably, Nigeria lost over 60 of her citizens to Covid-19 abroad; may their gentle souls rest in perfect peace. Undoubtedly, it is a statement of fact that within 24 months of the commission’s existence, it has really lived up to expectations and even surpassed it, though not yet uhuru, as Nigerians in the Diaspora are assured that their interest and welfare will continue to be adequately taken care of. In the years ahead, the commission intends to have a regular Diaspora Champions and Awards to deserving Nigerians in the Diaspora as a way of encouraging them to be good ambassadors of the country. Talks are on to have a befitting Diaspora City in Abuja with over 17,000 housing units. This will be replicated in some states of the federation.
Despite two major challenges facing the commission, which is lack of office accommodation and paucity of funds, the chairman/CEO has vowed not to be cowed by the challenges but to forge ahead and ensure that Nigerians in the Diaspora are not short changed in the scheme of things.
Balogun is the Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NIDCOM, Abuja.
