President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Nigerians living in the United States for the exemplary roles they are playing in their different areas
of endeavour, urged them to continue in that line to earn the respect of their hosts.
Speaking Saturday at the Townhall Meeting With Nigerians In The Diaspora, in New York, President Buhari said:
“It is gratifying for me to note that many Nigerians in the USA have continued to excel in their careers leading to some being appointed into the cabinet of His Excellency President Joe Biden.
“Similarly, many have been elected/appointed into various responsible and competitive positions in the United States of America. I congratulate those who have brought honours and pride to our country. Ibthank and commend them for their respective successes as I equally urge them to demonstrate the highest sense of responsibilities in order that they continue to remain reference points of excellence as they serve human kind in this country.
“As always, I wish to emphasise the absolute necessity for each and every one of you to continue to remain law-abiding as you live in the United States of America and comport yourselves in such exemplary manners that should earn you the privilege of reference as good Ambassadors of Nigeria.
“In order to earn yourselves collective self-respect within the communities you live in, you must live with one another peacefully and continue to do so without sub-divisions amongst yourselves. As you may know, as a people, we shall always be stronger together.”
The President said the administration created the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to serve as a bridge between them and the country in the developmental agenda with the expectation that they will give back to the country:
“As our Diaspora Ambassadors, we expect your willingness to ‘give back’
to Nigeria some of your resources, talents, skills and global exposure in the development of our great country, Nigeria.”
He gave assurances that the government will continue to act in their
interests whenever the need arises, citing recent evacuations in Libya,South Africa, and recently in Ukraine. He added that he had also approved the same in UAE and India.
The President commended them for Diaspora remittances which stood at
$20billon dollars in 2021, an amount four times the Foreign Direct Investment in the same period, as well as their investments in various sectors of the Nigerian economy such as Healthcare, Agriculture,
Education, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Housing and Real Estate, Transportation, Oil and Gas.
The President lauded Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission who coordinated the event, for her innovative programmes to bring the ambassadors closer home such as Diaspora Registration Portal, the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme and the Nigerian
Diaspora Investment Trust (NDIT).
President Buhari reiterated the administration’s commitment to free,
fair and transparent elections in 2023 as this is the only way Nigeria can continue to “set the right example for the rest of Africa and hopefully stop the recourse to unconstitutional changes of Governments
in our sub-region and the rest of the African Continent.”
The representatives of Nigerians in the US who visited the President are:
1. Bobby Digi Olisa, an American born Nigerian, current President of
Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, New York, co-owns an international
restaurant and a medical clinic in his community.
2. Philip H. Moses, from Kaduna State, obtained his first Degree in Geology from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1991. Lived in Minnesota, United States for 25 years now as a Mental Health practitioner, Behavior Modification Assistant with Minnesota Department of Human Services.
3. Dr. Yetunde Odugbesan-Omede, Ph.D, is a Professor of Global Affairs and Politics. She was recently awarded a four-year tenure as a Fulbright Specialist Scholar under the United States Department State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in recognition of her contribution and
impact in the field of higher education and international affairs.
4. Wale Adelagunja, Chairman, Council for Global Alliance (C-Glo) which identifies appropriate business opportunities in furtherance of Continental African and Caribbean Descent in the area of Commerce, technological and infrastructural development.
5. Dr. Rukaiya Bashir Hamidu, Born and raised in Maiduguri and Yola, she later attended St. George’s University in Grenada/New York for medical school (Doctor of Medicine Degree, First Class). Currently, she is a Gastroenterology Fellow at the University of Maryland Medical
Center in Baltimore.
6. Dr. Dominic Chukwuemeka Valentine Onyema, 1977 recipient of Barclays Bank International scholarship to the UWC Atlantic College in Wales in the United Kingdom. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree from the University of Lagos in Nigeria and Medical Degree from St. Georges
University. He is licensed in Medicine and Surgery in New York State since 1992. He is the Founder, Owner and President of Healthwise Medical Associates.
7. Miss Aghaeze Favour. A scholarship student at the Millersville
University doing her Masters in Clinical Psychology. She graduated with
Distinguished Cum Laude from Philander Smith College in 2021.
8. Obinna Anusiem is the CEO and Founder of NGEX, a provider of Data,
Marketing and Research solutions that enable clients engage and drive
awareness of their products and services with customers in Nigeria and
in Diaspora.
9. Colonel Gabriel A. Isioye is assuming command of the 865th Combat
Support Hospital, following his assignment as the Chief Dental Officer
at the 8th Medical Brigade in Staten Island, NY.
10. Dr Philip O. Ozuah, MD, PhD, is the President and CEO of Montefiore
Medicine, the umbrella organization for the Albert Einstein College of
Medicine. A National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded researcher and
award-winning educator, he also served as Professor and University
Chairman of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
11. Lieutenant Commander (Sel) Victor Agunbiade is an outstanding Naval
Officer in the US Navy and has greatly impacted the mission at every
assignment. He served as the Division Officer and Officer Recruiter at
Navy Recruiting District, Richmond (NRD) from November 2015- July 2019
where he earned recognition as Active General Recruiter. He is currently the Reserve Program Director, Navy Recruiting Command (NRC),Millington, Tennessee.
12. Dr Nelson Aluya, MBBS, MD is a Medical Doctor with extensive broad
base training and clinical expertise in over three continents. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer of the Newark Community Health Centers.
13. Alhaja Adenike Oyejide, BBA/MBA/MNI is a Retired New York City
Government Official. By profession, she is a Forensic Accountant and a
Banker. She is currently the Vice Chairman of African Advisory Council, Bronx Borough President Office, Bronx, New York.
14. Prof. Augustine Esogbue is a Nigerian born Professor Emeritus
(NNOM) of The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta.
He was a recipient of the maiden American Universities’ Scholarship
Program that sent him to UCLA in 1961 where he graduated with a Bachelor
of Science in Electrical Engineering. He obtained his Ph. D. in 1968,
becoming the first Black person in the world to earn a Ph. D. in
Industrial and Systems Engineering/ Operations Research.
15. Dr. Adeola Popoola is the President and Consultant, Poppy Physical
Rehabilitation Consultants with Specialty Centers for the physically and
mentally impaired and disabled, and remediation of pain syndromes. He
had an extensive professional calling spanning 40 years, 1982-2022 in
Universities across Nigeria. He was President, Nigeria in Diaspora
Organization, NIDO-New Jersey.
