By Mercy Peter
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has described Nigerians in the Diaspora as “agents of change, innovation, investment, and social transformation.”
Governor Otu also emphasized the critical need to strengthen engagement platforms between state governments and their citizens abroad.
Governor Otu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, made the remarks at the 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers (SDFPOs) Summit held in Calabar, Cross River State.
He noted that the establishment of State Diaspora Focal Point Offices and Officers’ Summits across the country provides a strategic mechanism for deepening collaboration and optimizing diaspora contributions to national development.
According to him, the vision of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM) is to “promote and harness the capacity and resources of Cross Riverians in the Diaspora for overall national development.”
The Canaan City, Governor Otu expressed delight that Cross River was hosting the summit, which brings together stakeholders united by a shared commitment to development.
He highlighted that the 2021 National Diaspora Policy offers a robust framework for engaging Nigerians abroad, ensuring their talents and investments are effectively integrated into state and national development plans.
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the summit aims to strengthen diaspora-related structures through the states.
“The Diaspora cannot be ignored anymore in Nigeria,” she asserted, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing diaspora engagement and support. Dabiri-Erewa also urged state governments to empower their focal point officers, ensuring that the dividends of diaspora partnerships are effectively realized.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, NGOs and Civil Societies, Senator Bassey Aniekan, represented by his deputy, Senator Anthony Yaro, described the Nigerian diaspora as “a new economic window and one of the nation’s greatest assets.” He noted that diaspora citizens possess vital skills, knowledge, and global networks that can significantly contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
“Strengthening the states and our diaspora will not only drive growth but also deepen unity and shared prosperity across our nation,” he stated.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, emphasized the tangible impact of the diaspora community across states, citing development projects, social initiatives, and financial remittances. According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, diaspora remittances now exceed $20 billion annually, reflecting their growing role in the economy.
Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), Prince Otu Okor, described the summit as a landmark event in fostering engagement with Cross Riverians abroad. He noted that Cross River was the first state to establish a diaspora commission modeled after NIDCOM, reaffirming the state’s commitment to structured diaspora relations.
The two-day summit, themed “Nigerians in Diaspora as Agents for a Positive Image of Nigeria: State Involvement as a Platform for Diaspora Engagement in National Development,” brought together focal point officers from Akwa Ibom, Benue, Enugu, Niger, FCT, Kogi, Ekiti, Edo, and Cross River States, alongside representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other strategic partners.
The event concluded with a call for deeper state-level collaboration to tap into the skills, innovation, and resources of Nigerians in the Diaspora for inclusive and sustainable national growth.
