By Ada Nkong
President Bola Tinubu has assured diasporas of his administration’s commitment to tackle the challenges facing them through deliberate prioritization of diaspora matters.
The President who was represented by the Minister of state for foreign affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu gave the assurance during the 2025 National Diaspora Merit Awards and Dinner.
While describing Diasporas as partners in National Development, he commended NiDCOM for sustaining the event saying the awards aim to encourage excellence, motivate recipients and inspire others to do better.
The President speaking through Ojukwu further disclosed the federal government’s resolve to develop more strategic platforms for engagement adding that Nigeria’s foreign missions have improved on customer services. He congratulated the awardees and charged them to continue to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.
The Chairman NiDCOM ,Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa congratulated the awardees and all diasporas for their contributions to national development as evidenced by increasing diaspora remittance.
She thanked the LOC for putting together a successful event and appreciated all their partners for their contributions.
An awardee Barr. Chioma Ohaa while appreciating NiDCOM for the award said it would motivate her to do more in the areas of scholarships, providing legal aid and agricultural support, medical outreaches and poverty alleviation.
According to her, about 50 students are in schools around the country based on her support as she believes no child should be left behind.
The Director General Edo Diaspora Agency Dr Loretta Ogboro-Okor who applauded NiDCOM for providing various platforms for diaspora engagement harped on the need to harmonize diaspora organizations for more synergy and improved outcomes.
She said the Edo State Diaspora Agency of which she is the first DG has in its four months of existence, put in place liaison officers in about 150 countries as well as all LGAd and senatorial districts in the state to ease facilitation of engagement and interventions for Edo Diaspora.
Recipients of the award include Prof Akintunde Akinade, Hon. Bobby Digi, Engr. Oluyemi Ogundele, Prof.Hauwa Ibrahim, Mrs Voke Ogueh,Engr. Alfred Okoigun, Prof. Adam Abba-Aji and Capt. Adebanke Osilaja the first female pilot to fly the dream lifter Boeing 747-BAS.
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