DIASPORA: NiDCOM, AfDB TO PARTNER ON TRUST FUND, INVESTMENT, TRAINING, OTHERS

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Africa Development
Bank (AfDB) on Thursday agreed to partner on many areas of Diaspora
development in Africa.

At a parley in Abuja, Hon.( Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission led a delegation to meet Mr. Lamin
Barrow, the Director General, Nigeria Country Office, AfDB in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa, who briefed the country Director about the activities of
NiDCOM, also extended partnership to AfDB on the National Diaspora Trust
Investment Fund.

“We will want to have the AfDB on board in setting up a strategic
investment platform for the Diaspora especially with our NDITF” she
said.

She added that the Nigerian Diaspora all over the world are amongst the
greatest professionals , and has again this year , recorded the highest
remittances in sub-Saharan , according to the latest World Bank report.

She also solicited AfDB collaboration in continuous strategic road map
development and invited them to its activities including the Diaspora
investment summit and , the Diaspora day , the Door of return, and the
Diaspora Housing Programme while also informing him of the establishment
of a diaspora data mapping portal.

The NiDCOM boss informed the AfDB Director General that a major summit
of all African Diaspora is being planned for 2023 to be hosted in
Nigeria.

Responding, Barrow commended the NiDCOM Boss for her visionary
leadership and passion in supporting the diaspora, assuring her that the
Bank is ready to partner with the Commission in all its pro African
development Diaspora initiatives.

“Investment trustfund are things we want to support and we are ready to
assist with strategic plans to achieve a sustainable investment base for
the Diaspora”, he assured.

He stated that NiDCOM has highly coordinated structures, therefore, AfDB
is ready to get to work as it also has a trustfund for Migration and
Diaspora.

Barrow added that “the remittances are huge but the brain power is even
greater” he encouraged NiDCOM to continue to harness the talents, energy
and ideas of the diaspora while also assuring to be part of NiDCOM’s
other activities in the future.