By Mercy Peter
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri- Erewa has solicited the support of African Diasporans in the area of youth and sport development.
Dabiri-Erewa disclosed this when she hosted the National Basketball Association legends Lisa Leslie and Chiney Ogwumike in Abuja.
The duo are members of the United States’ President Joe Biden’s African Diaspora Council delegation to AFCON 2023 holding in Cote d’Ivoire.
She stressed that Sports Development in Nigeria will go a long way if its Diaspora Component is fully harnessed and developed through knowledge-sharing, expertise, skills and investment in the Sector.
The NiDCOM Chairman described the likes of Leslie and Ogwumike as strategic and important for the advancement in sports development in Nigeria since they are embedded with skills and resources to groom home-grown talents as a way of volunteerism and giving back to Nigeria.
She also extols the virtues and enormous energies Lisa and Chiney have brought to bear on basketball and have equally inspired younger women, “thank you for making us women to believe in ourselves and to realise that you can achieve anything you want “.
She added, “And hopefully we can do more structured programmes together. And have you trained more Chiney and more Lisa Leslie’s from the young people that are so talented out here in Nigeria and of course you know the softpower we have as Nigerians now all over the world. So we hope that we can promote our culture, our music, our art, and you know we need to takeover the world and this is the time to do that.”
Minister of Sports Development, Sen John Enoh, excited about the event put together by NIDCOM to recognize and encourage Basketball in Nigeria through Diaspora Sports, saw it as a step further in rebranding sports development in Nigeria.
Sen Owan Enoh expressed optimism that the Nigerian sports industry will skyrocket into a platform that will promote networking and investment opportunities with who’s who in Nigeria and in the international sports arena especially with the Diaspora component which is a huge gold mine.
He commended the Diaspora Commission for what it does for Diaspora Engagement; while encouraging the female honourees, to do more for Sports Development.
Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon Tochukwu Chinedu Okere expressed solidarity and applauded the WNBA Women Basketball Professionals especially the Nigerian-American, Chiney (Chinenye) Ogwumike, who has demonstrated unmitigated passion and love for Nigeria.
Hon. Okere asserted that Ogwumike can be counted among the over 50% of Nigerians who have or pursued higher degrees in tertiary institutions, and built a name for themselves that have brought pride and honour to Nigeria.
He therefore urged them to cause a turn around in Basketball development in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Samson Itegboje, noted that soft power through unity, diversity, hardwork and collaboration is needed to achieve an objective Diaspora Sports Development.
Amb. Itegboje commended the WNBA Stars for following worthy values that resonates within them.
Lisa Leslie appreciated the warmth she has received since her arrival in Nigeria adding that the same attitude is seen in Nigerian Diasporas which clearly indicates the true friendship, kind and happy nature of Nigerians, aside their diligence, industry and high moral values.
She said basketball has impacted so much for her and had paved way to push for fairness and equality for women in the game, in terms of number, ethnicity and other factors.
The American former WNBA player understands that the youth is the future and they are passionately driven to help the youths in sports development.
Chiney (Chinenye) Ogwumike, first woman to dunk in Basketball, super excited to be back home, commended Dabiri-Erewa and NIDCOM Management and Staff, for a well thought-out honour accorded them and promised to give back to her country, Nigeria by accentuating Baskellball development in Nigeria.
As a recent appointee, although the youngest, among the US President’s Council,
the Nigeria-American Diaspora Basketballer and Broadcaster said she is very passionate about sports development especially Basketball.
She agreed that sports, like oil and gas industry, needed to be diversified which is why she is bringing in skills and expertise in growing basketball, especially for Women in Nigeria.
Vice President, NBA Africa and Country Head, NBA Nigeria, informed that 50 out of the 120 basketballers of African descent are Nigerians, playing for US basketball teams; which is one of the reasons the Association established its Africa branch.
According to her, taking this step will help produce more local talents that will become the next _Michael Jordan, Lisa Leslie_ or
_Chiney Ogwumike_ in the American teams.
