President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday approved the establishment of the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund, a private sector investment window for Nigerians in the Diaspora to be able to support direct investments in the country.
He gave the go ahead on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the presentation of a compendium entitled +600 Diaspora Icons @60, published by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
Also, Buhari pledged support for the establishment of the Diaspora Intervention Fund to support the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to fulfil its mandate, noting that the foreign exchange remittances by Nigerians in the Diaspora have not only helped families, but also 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.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He quoted Buhari as saying, ‘‘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.
‘‘No one else will do so for us. Rather, other people will tend to capitalize on the few bad eggs and characterize us in their own narratives, narratives that seek to characterize 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 behavior and with determination to offer quality services that contribute to the progress of humanity.’’
He congratulated those whose names made it to this first edition while encouraging 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 endeavors and they should ‘give back’ by contributing to the development of Nigeria,’’ he said.
The President commended the Diaspora Commission led by 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.
However, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Dabiri-Erewain a remark said the idea of the compendium was inspired from the regular Diaspora Presidential Town Hall meetings.
She said, ‘‘The compendium is birthed out of the necessity to recognize, 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.’’
