Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Wednesday in Abuja described migration as a natural phenomenon that cannot be stopped .
She however stated that managed migration must be encouraged for positive impact on the migrant , the country of origin and the host country
Dabiri-Erewa made this assertion at a Lecture she delivered on: “Migration, Diaspora and Africa’s Development at the National Defence College for Participants of Course 29 in Abuja.
The NIDCOM Boss maintained that the Diaspora Phenomena wss the product of legitimate migration, hence the need for regular(legal) migration as opposed to irregular(illegal) migration.
She further stated that Nigeria was experiencing the feminisation of migration, a situation where more women were getting involved than men in labour migration.
She said that the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission was in high level talks with countries especially in Europe to mainstream migration issues for a win win situation for both destination and departure countries.
The NIDCOM Boss stated that key drivers of migration included: security, economic, environmental, socio- political and other pull and push factors.
On Nigeria Diaspora Population, Dabiri-Erewa said that an estimated 17 million Nigerians are scattered all over the world accomplishing excellent feats in medicine, Health, high tech, education, economy and many others both to their host countries and country of origin.
In 2019 alone, Nigerians in Diaspora remitted about $25billion dollars to shore up the economy.
She added that the Commission was ready to act as a bridge between Nigeria and its Diasporas to harness the abundant human capital, skills and talents to build a formidable nation.
She gave assurances that the Commission has its contact Desks in international and governmental agencies to liaise and speed up intervention processes.
Meanwhile, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Makanju Mackson Kadiri has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the wisdom in establishing the Nigerians in Diaspora, Commission, NIDCOM, to Carter for the needs of millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The Commandant and participants also commended the NIDCOM Boss for her passion, dedication and commitment to duty and promised that the National Defence College will always be one of the frontier supporters of the Commission and its objectives.
