By ABIRHIRE THOMAS
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), on Thursday, agreed to partner on many areas of Diaspora development in Africa.
At a parley in Abuja, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM led a delegation to meet Mr. Lamin Barrow, the Director General, Nigeria Country Office, AfDB in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa, who briefed the country Director about the activities of NiDCOM, also extended partnership to AfDB on the National Diaspora Trust Investment Fund.
“We will want to have the AfDB on board in setting up a strategic investment platform for the Diaspora especially with our NDITF,” she said.
She added that the Nigerians in Diaspora, all over the world, are among the greatest professionals and have, again this year, recorded the highest remittances in sub-Sahara, according to the latest World Bank report.
She also solicited AfDB collaboration in continuous strategic roadmap development and invited them to NiDCOM activities including the Diaspora Investment Summit and the Diaspora Day, the Door of Return and the Diaspora Housing Programme, while also informing Barrow of the establishment of a Diaspora Data Mapping Portal.
The NiDCOM boss informed the AfDB Director General that a major summit of All African Diaspora is being planned for 2023 to be hosted in Nigeria.
Responding, Barrow commended the NiDCOM chairman for her visionary leadership and passion in supporting the Diaspora, assuring her that the continental apex bank is ready to partner with the commission in all its pro-African development Diaspora initiatives.
“Investment trustfund are things we want to support and we are ready to assist with strategic plans to achieve a sustainable investment base for the Diaspora”, he assured.
He stated that NiDCOM has highly coordinated structure and, therefore, AfDB is ready to get to work as it also has a trustfund for Migration and Diaspora.
Barrow added that “the remittances are huge but the brain power is even greater”. He encouraged NiDCOM to continue to harness the talents, energy and ideas of the Diaspora, while also assuring to be part of NiDCOM’s other activities in the future.
