The Nigeria Diaspora commission is set to host 2nd of Edition of Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS) on the 27th and 28th of April in at the Rotunda Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
Hon.Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman NiDCOM, disclosed this in Abuja at a joint World Press Conference in preparation for the symposium.
Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended Africans in diaspora for been good Ambassadors of the continent,she said their patriotic acts proved that Africans are competent, vibrant and talented people.
Speaking on the forthcoming event, Dabiri-Erewa stated that the GLOBAL DIASPORA SYMPOSIUM was inspired by the Global Diaspora Summit in 2012 and the African Global Diaspora Summit of 2021, in line with the theme “ Building stronger connections between Africa and the global Diaspora” , She said the symposium would give Africa opportunity to engage with its Diasporans and work together towards the development of the continent and the optimization of Africa and the diaspora’s resources towards building a network that ensures continued growth and sustainable development.
She highlighted objectives of the symposium as follows;
i. Create an interface for networking among African and other Diaspora all over the world.
ii. Promote the implementation and institutionalising of Pan-Africanism at the UN through the celebration of the “International Decade for People of African Descent”.
iii. Build bridges between Africa and the Diaspora by deepening relations between the AU, CARICOM, OACPS, and the SPF, among others in realising the Diaspora as the sixth region of the AU.
iv. Explore and engage the contributions of Diaspora skills, particularly in scientific knowledge and technology transfer.
v. Mobilise Diaspora savings and Diaspora philanthropic contributions and harness migration, remittances and Diaspora contributions for suitable development.
vi. Enhance participation of the Diaspora in Africa’s development process to support the development of the roadmap for the Diaspora as the sixth region of Africa towards the attainment of AU’s Agenda 2063.
vii. Advocate policy and practice changes conducive for more effective integration of Diaspora-led actions in the national development plans of their countries of origin through organisations such as the OACPS
Making his contribution virtually from Sydney, Australia,Prof Chika Anyanwu spoke of a proud decolonized africa stating that the diasporans were a bridge between Africa and the world for building the continent. and the joint effort of Africans at home and in diaspora was neccesary to build a desired Africa.
Also in his remarks,a Nigerian in Diaspora, Dr Bashiru Obasekola described the Symposium as an opportunity for networking and a step towards investment and boosting relationships between home and those in the diaspora .
Director General,Directorate of Technical Co-operation in Africa (DTCA) Ministry of foreign Affairs Amb. Rabiu Dagari stated that the symposium was an continued effort from where festac 77 stopped ,as it would bring together Nigerians across the world.
He stated that the event will encourage diasporans to come home and intergrate and that integration was necessary to create a network that would allow them fully explore opportunities.
He stated that diasporans excel greatly so it’s an opportunity to tap into that stating that other races built successful businesses in Nigeria because they connected and pool support back home.
In close remarks,Chairman Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS), Mrs Ibukun Odusote urged Nigerians and Africans in Diaspora to key in to the event and ensure its success,she also enjoined Nigerian media to give the event required coverage.
