In a commendable move towards fostering a stronger connection with its diaspora community, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has established a comprehensive Diaspora office.
The initiative has received praise from Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
In a heartfelt congratulatory letter addressed to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Dabiri-Erewa expressed her appreciation for the governor’s visionary decision to create a specialized agency focused on addressing the interests and welfare of Lagosians living abroad.
This significant step, according to her, is poised to deepen the ties between the state and its diaspora, ultimately expediting the overall development of Lagos.
The establishment of the Lagos Diaspora Agency places the state in the ranks of others like Abia, which already boasts a Diaspora Commission, and states such as Ondo and Anambra, where dedicated Commissioners for Diaspora affairs operate. Additionally, states like Edo and Cross Rivers are actively in the process of setting up their own diaspora agencies.
Highlighting the broader national perspective, Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that every state in the Federation has a diaspora focal person.
She urged other states to follow Lagos’s lead and prioritize diaspora affairs, underscoring the significant contributions that indigenes abroad can make to both state and national development.
The NiDCOM boss extended her heartfelt congratulations to Governor Sanwo-Olu and Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, the appointed pioneer head of the Lagos State Diaspora Agency. The move is seen as a crucial step towards fostering stronger bonds with the global Nigerian community and unlocking the full potential of diaspora contributions to the development of Lagos and the nation.
E-signed:
Abdur-Rahman Balogun
Director, Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, Abuja.
