Diaspora Day 2024: NIDOA Commends NiDCOM, Lists Expectations

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA) has commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) led by the chairperson, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for the successful celebrations of the National Diaspora Day 2024 and the second edition of the Diaspora Merit Awards with the theme, ‘JAPA Phenomena and Its Implications for National Development’, saying it looked forward to the implementation of the takeaways from the event.

LEADERSHIP reports that the ‘Japa’ phenomenon, a colloquial term referring to the significant number of Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad, has been a subject of considerable debate among Nigerians in both formal and informal settings.

The event, which was held between July 25 and 26, 2024, at the Banquet Hall of Nigeria’s Presidential Villa in Abuja, witnessed a large convergence of Nigerians from all over the world. Other Diaspora Nigerians who could not travel down for the event gathered at their respective branches as the event was streamed live on multimedia screens and they were also afforded the opportunity to link up with Abuja from New York, Australia, Ghana and many other countries for live discussions.

Resource persons also made their presentations from the U.S, UK, South Africa, India and other locations without having to be physically present in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Mr Bukola Olaoye and Uche Uzoigwe, chairman and secretary, Board of Trustees of NIDOA, respectively, they commended the meticulous planning and seamless execution of the event which underscores NiDCOM’s commitment to fostering stronger ties between Nigeria and her Diaspora Community.

“The discussions, presentations and insights shared during the event were thought-provoking and highlighted the complexities and opportunities presented by the JAPA Phenomena. It is commendable how the event brought together diverse voices from various sectors to deliberate on the ways in which the Diaspora community can contribute to national development despite the challenges of migration.

“The innovative ideas and strategies discussed will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for future policies and initiatives aimed at leveraging the talents and resources of our diaspora community,” the statement read.

NIDOA, which was represented at the event by a strong delegation led by the BoT Chairman, Mr. Olaoye, said different speakers in their keynote addresses and discussions, shed more light on the push and pull factors driving emigration, emphasising the importance of creating a conducive environment for talent retention and reversing brain-drain thereby turning it to brain-gain.

The group said they looked forward to the implementation of some of the recommendations at the event, which include enhancing diaspora engagements, improving local opportunities, and fostering international collaborations. The statement added that every diaspora Nigerian was looking forward to the day when diaspora voting will become a reality and is delighted to see leaders of the Nigerian parliament taking turns to make commitment towards making that dream come through.

NIDOA thanked Hon. Dabiri-Erewa and her team for organising an occasion that afforded participants the opportunity to network among themselves, encouraging unity and friendship which is expected to lead to collaborative initiatives between the diaspora community and local entities in the days ahead.

The statement added that, “NIDOA delegates were able to engage other continental delegates and also connected with representatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service and had fruitful discussions concerning passport intervention for members, and plans for future ICT partnership among others.”

They promised to establish a mentorship program that connects young professionals in Nigeria with experienced diaspora members, create partnership with investment forums to attract diaspora investment in key sectors of the Nigerian economy, and develop skill-transfer programs that will facilitate the transfer of skills and knowledge from the diaspora to home based professionals. The statement reaffirmed NIDOA’s commitment to working collaboratively with NiDCOM to address the implications of the Japa syndrome as they believe that with concerted efforts, the current challenges can be turned into opportunities for sustainable national development.