The newly established Edo State Diaspora Agency on Thursday said it is determined to ensure that the potential of Edo indigenes in the Diaspora is properly harnessed for the economic, social, and cultural development of the state.
The director general of the agency, Dr. (Mrs) Loretta Ogboro-Okor, during her maiden press conference in Benin City, Edo State’s capital , also expressed the agency’s readiness to build synergy with other sister agencies to address the menace of human trafficking.
Ogboro-Okor, while thanking Governor Monday Okpebholo for establishing the agency, also noted that focus would be given to the welfare of Edo indigenes in the Diaspora, strengthening relations, growing remittances, and fostering growth and development.
“Standing from our strategic location in Nigeria, where one cannot navigate the North, South, East and West, without going through Edo State, we draw a parallel in today’s world too with our Diaspora population that have also become the anchor and rallying point of not just Nigerians but Africans across the world more so, blazing a trail of democracy and political consciousness as we can see from our political engagements in our gubernatorial and other elections.
“As Edo State People in the Diaspora, we contribute hugely in remittances to not just our State, but to our Country Nigeria, as a whole. We will be economical with the truth if we do not highlight the fact that our sojourns have been fraught with challenges, ranging from but not limited to stigmatisation, racism, marginalisation and stereotypes.
“However, through it all, we rise and hold onto the central theme of hope together, we explore our possibilities for the future, and we continue to maintain our shared solidarity pushing our positive narratives of Edo State Past, Present and Future with no limits.”
She further stressed that the agency will also partner with traditional leaders to ensure that Diaspora contributions are recognized, valued, and integrated into the broader Edo State development agenda to maximize Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE transformational agenda.
The Diaspora Agency was established by Governor Monday Okpebholo to serve as a bridge between people in the diaspora and government at home, ensuring that the skills, resources, and experiences of our global citizens are harnessed for the development of our state.
