Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians living in the United States to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. He made the appeal at an interaction with the Nigerian diaspora community in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The engagement focused on diaspora participation in national development, investment, skills transfer, and Nigeria's economic transformation. Shettima described Nigerians in the diaspora as a major reservoir of knowledge, expertise, and human capital.
The federal government is keen to deepen the involvement of Nigerians in the diaspora in national development, Shettima said. He urged them to deploy their expertise, resources, and international networks to accelerate Nigeria's development. The vice president commended the chairman/chief executive officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for coordinating the engagement. The meeting was attended by several governors, including Babagana Zulum of Borno, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara states.
Shettima highlighted President Tinubu's efforts to reposition the economy, stressing that the administration had taken difficult decisions to achieve this goal. He noted that President Tinubu did not blame his predecessor for the challenges he inherited, but instead took bold decisions to address them. The vice president's remarks were well-received by the attendees, who were eager to hear about the administration's plans for Nigeria's development.
The engagement also featured a presentation by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who highlighted the administration's reforms, economic recovery efforts, and initiatives to revitalise Nigeria's mining sector. His presentation reportedly received a standing ovation from the attendees. Alake's remarks underscored the government's commitment to diversifying the economy and promoting investment in the mining sector.
The meeting was also attended by several other senior government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. The high-level attendance underscored the government's commitment to engaging with the diaspora community and securing their support for its initiatives. The event was seen as a success, with many attendees expressing their enthusiasm for the administration's plans.
Chief Emeka Molokwu, Chairman of Renewed Hope USA, was commended for mobilising Nigerians across various states in the US for the meeting. Molokwu had earlier urged governors aligned with the administration to document and publicise their achievements in their respective states. He cited the growth in Nigeria's foreign reserves and other economic indicators as evidence of progress under the administration.
Shettima urged Nigerians abroad to look beyond negative narratives about the country and participate actively in its economic development. He expressed confidence that with the support of the diaspora community, Nigeria could overcome its challenges and achieve sustainable development. The vice president's remarks concluded the engagement, which was seen as a positive step towards fostering greater collaboration between the government and the diaspora community.
Key points
- The administration has taken difficult decisions to reposition the economy.
- Nigerians in the diaspora are a major reservoir of knowledge, expertise, and human capital.
- The government is keen to deepen the involvement of Nigerians in the diaspora in national development.
