Tuesday, January 11, 2022 / 06:12 PM / State
House Press Release / Header Image Credit: BBC
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja
endorsed the establishment of the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund
(NDITF), a private sector investment window with Nigerians in the Diaspora to
support direct investments in the country.
Speaking at the presentation of a compendium
entitled +600 Diaspora Icons @ 60, published by the Nigerians in Diaspora
Commission (NiDCOM), the President said Nigeria is open to welcoming the
Diaspora Direct Investment by compatriots abroad.
The President, who also pledged support for the
establishment of the Diaspora Intervention Fund to support the Commission to
fulfil its mandate, noted that the foreign exchange remittances by Nigerians in
the Diaspora have not only helped families but enhanced the development index
of Nigeria.
The President described the 327-page compendium as
a historical record of the worth of our compatriots globally, adding that the
distinguished list in the publication is a reminder of what Nigerians are
capable of doing to the delight of the global community.
"Irrespective of the few bad eggs among us, and
every nation has such bad eggs, Nigeria remains a great country, populated by
great people, living at home or abroad, making us proud.
"This compendium attests to that fact and the
names of people and the fields they have excelled speak about their resilience
and how exceptional Nigerians, both at home and abroad, have become".
The President reminded Nigerians that it is their
duty to extol and celebrate compatriots that excel in their chosen careers and
professions.
"No one else will do so for us. Rather, other
people will tend to capitalise on the few bad eggs and characterise us in their
own narratives, narratives that seek to characterise us in bad light. We must
not allow that to happen.
"As we launch the compendium of excellent
Nigerians today, we are also celebrating some of our best, nationally and
globally.
I" call on every Nigerian, irrespective of where
they may be, to continue to be of exemplary behaviour and with determination to
offer quality services that contribute to the progress of humanity".
While congratulating those whose names made it to
this first edition, President Buhari encouraged others to work more conscientiously
to make the list in the subsequent editions.
Recounting his engagements with Nigerians in the
Diaspora during his official travels abroad, the President said his Diaspora
threefold agenda remains unchanged.
"Nigerians in the Diaspora are our Ambassadors-at-large
by their character, comportment and daily actions.
"They should be the best and excel in all their
endeavours and they should 'give back' by contributing to the development of
Nigeria".
The President commended the Diaspora Commission led
by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for the energy and innovative steps they put
together to ensure better engagements with the Diaspora Community.
"Rebuilding Nigeria is not the responsibility of
Nigerians who live at home alone but of every Nigerian irrespective of the
place of domicile", he said.
In her remarks, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM,
Dabiri-Erewa said the idea of the compendium was inspired from the regular
Diaspora Presidential Town Hall meetings.
"The compendium is birthed out of the necessity to
recognise, celebrate and showcase Nigerians in the Diaspora who are doing great
things in their host countries and also contributing to the socio-economic
development of Nigeria", she said.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that the Commission plans to
publish the compendium at regular intervals, towards changing the negative
stereotypes typified by the activities of a few Nigerians who do not represent
the country well.
Femi Adesina
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