The President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, has restated the National
Assembly commitment to the welfare and well-being of Nigerians living
in the Diaspora.
Lawan stated this during the official presentation of a compendium entitled: “+600 Diaspora icons at 60” by Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the
management staff in Abuja on Thursday.
Lawan commended the doggedness, passion and determination of the NIDCOM boss in bringing diaspora issues to the front burner right from her days in the parliament and now as Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM.
On Diaspora voting, Lawan expressed optimism that Nigerians
anywhere in the world would soon freely exercise their franchise once INEC is through with the bill.
Lawan’s position was corroborated by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who emphasised that the National Assembly is working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put mechanisms
that will ensure Nigerians anywhere in the world exercise their freedom
to vote.
Omo-Agege however gave assurances that the 9th Senate have ensured that people-centred bills are considered and passed by the 9th Senate.
The Senate President promised to support NIDCOM in its enormous task of engaging the Diaspora especially with the adoption and ratification of the National Diaspora Policy in tandem with Nigeria’s Foreign Policy.
Presenting the compendium, NIDCOM boss Dabiri-Erewa said it
is a compilation of extraordinary and exceptional exploits of Nigerians in the Diaspora in different sectors.
Dabiri-Erewa added that NIDCOM is primarily building trust with the
Nigerian Diaspora global community to fast track investment back home
through various programmes while adding that the National Diaspora Investment Summit has attracted
over 300 Nigerians investing in different sectors of the economy.
The NiDCOM boss listed other programmes of the Commission among others to include; Diaspora Door of
Return, Diaspora Data Mapping, Diaspora Portal Mechanism, Diaspora
Lecture Series, Annual National Diaspora Day, and appointment of 33
Diaspora Focal Point Officers across the states of Nigeria.