By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
It was heartwarming to be informed recently of the enormous contributions of the Abia in Diaspora to the social and economic wellbeing of Abians. One of these contributions was disclosed by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo.
The Commissioner while representing Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to present an opening remark at the recent first Abia Diaspora Summit & Reunion held in Aba disclosed that state government through its geriatric medical services has offered medical services to over 600 aged people during the Christmas festivities through the instrumentality of Abia Diaspora community.
Chikamnayo, who described the governor as a man of great vision, noted that Gov.Ikpeazu is the first governor in the country to initiate Diaporan Commission.He also noted that Gov. Ikpeazu since the inception of office in 2015 has been traveling across the globe to interact with Abians in Diaspora in a bid to fashion a way of moving that state forward.
According to the Commissioner, Abia was able to contain the health challenges associated with the COVID-19 courtesy of Abia Tele-Health initiative which ensured that Abians were treated from home.He said that ease of movements during the festivities are made possible by alternate routes constructed by Gov. Ikpeazu.
The Commissioner, on behalf of the governor, thanked all the Diasporans who travelled from their different locations to grace the event despite the negativities leveled against the state by its enemies.
The summit celebrated the theme is “Diaspora Engagement & Partnership: An Effective Instrument of Development.One of the highpoints of the event was the presentation of an award to Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The event was a harvest of laudable presentations on the need to have a robust and vibrant Diaspora Commission. On her part, the Chairman/ CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the Abia Diaspora Summit as an event in line with the federal government’s encouragement on Diaspora investment in the country.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa in her Goodwill message at the event assured that President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to give adequate support and advocacy required of all Nigerians in Diaspora to engage with government towards the mutual development of their home country and local communities.
She described the summit as apt, adding that” Nigerians in Diaspora play a very important role, contribute immensely to the growth and development of their countries like Israel, India,China , Pakistan, Mexico and the Phillipines who have successfully utilised their Diaspora national development”.
” Engaging the Diaspora for development at the sub- national levels is very important. This is one of the reasons for encouraging state governors to appoint State Diaspora Focal Point Officers,” she said.
Part of the objectives of the summit is assembling Abia Diasporans for home state engagement; establishing a partnership with key stakeholders in the state to address development needs; identifying barriers hindering visible development and all the remittances.
Others are providing the right instrument of implementing working principles of development; enabling knowledge transfers from the Diaspora to the state; providing an opportunity to interact with and redirect the mindset of home- based Abians setting the stage for inducing self- determination on the citzenry for economic empowerment.
At this point,it is highly imperative to outline the achievements the commission has accomplished in two years of its existence. These include setting up active website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,and WhatsApp accounts for information sharing, community engagement, solicitation of input, networking and data gathering, highlight success of Abia Diasporans, and to encourage others to participate. The commission has encouraged and facilitated an ongoing initiative for Diaspora investment through cooperative- the Abia Diaspora Sovereign Wealth Initiative(ADSWI); set up a Diaspora Consortium which collaborated with the Commissioner for Education to aid virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lock down; facilitated a collaboration between the Michigan State, USA and Abia State University; encouraged football group from the United Kingdom, Afgras to mentor kids on athletics in Abia State. It is also working with Umuahia Chamber of Commerce on collaboration with a foreign University to develop entrepreneurial courses in the higher instructions in Abia State; partnership with Global Health Institution in United States for an ongoing project in Primary Health Care and Public Health Education. The commission has also participated in a Mental Conference organised by Diasporans across the United States of America to create awareness for mental health in Nigeria.
It will be recalled that some of the functions enumerated in the bill establishing the commission are: provision of direct link for Abians in Diaspora to participate in the development of the state and advise the government on measures to create a conducive environment for them to effectively participate in the economic and social development of the state; exploring the huge reservoir of skills, knowledge and experience of Abians who live abroad for the development of the state including to source, provide and impact special skills that are required and not available at certain levels of government or private sector; exploring most attractive and cost efficient means of capital in- flow, remittances, investments and transfer of technology by Abians in Diaspora; develop and coordinate the implementation of policies that affect Abians in Diaspora and give them a sense of belonging in the affairs of the state, among others.
