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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday in London tasked Nigerian diplomats on the need to woo investors to further boost the nation’s economic growth.
Obasanjogave the charge when he visited the Nigerian High Commission in the UK.
The Western Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obasanjo was received by Dr Dalhatu Tafida, the High Commissioner; his Deputy, Amb. Olutoyin Lawal and other officials.
He said that as representatives of the Federal Government, the impression they give to outsiders could impact positively or negative on the country.
“You all are ambassadors representing Nigeria; you are here to work and project Nigeria positively.
“What we need in Nigeria is investment, good governance; it is the impression they get from you that will speak for the country,’’ NAN quotes Obasanjo as saying.
He further said that as agent of change it behooves on them to bring about positive changes in their country, adding that Nigerian currently needed the best hands to turn it around positively.
The former president commended Tafida for the reforms he carried out in the Nigerian House.
“Coming here today to see a microcosm of Nigerians not in all the 350 languages, but sufficient in diversity to reflect the true nature of our country and witnessing what I have seen today, I feel very proud of the Nigerian Mission.
“Nobody will come here and will not have a high opinion of the country; how I wish every aspect of government both at home and in other missions is organised like this and is made to work effectively like what I have seen here in Nigerian Mission in London,’’ he said.
Obasanjo,who also spoke on the challenges facing Africa, said that after 50 years of independence, Africans, including Nigerians, had no one but their leaders to blame for the poverty, insecurity and under development of the continent.
“It is the conscious and unconscious choices made by African leaders that have led us to where we are today.
“The good thing is that we can move from where we are currently to where we should have been,’’ he said.
Earlier, Tafida had commended Obasanjo for ensuring that the mission was adequately funded during his tenure as president.
Tafida, who also commended the former president for initiating the economic reforms in the country, added that ``all the reforms that we are trying to implement today came on board during your time’’.
He solicited for Obasanjo’s intervention for the adequate funding of the mission ``since you are closed to those who can make the mission a model for Nigeria’’.
