Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has held a town hall meeting with members of the Nigerian community in New York, as part of activities surrounding Nigeria’s participation in the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Shettima conveyed the warm greetings of President Tinubu to Nigerians in the United States, while highlighting the importance of the Nigerian diaspora in the country’s development. He also noted the President’s connection with the Nigerian diaspora, particularly his association with Chicago.
The town hall engagement was coordinated and moderated by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, OON, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen engagement with Nigerians abroad and harness their contributions to national development.
Discussions at the meeting focused on diaspora participation in national development, investment, skills and knowledge transfer, as well as the role of Nigerians abroad in advancing Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the Federal Government to interact directly with Nigerians in the United States and discuss ways of deepening collaboration between the diaspora community and Nigeria.
In attendance were the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal; Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara; and Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum.
Also present were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro; Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim;
Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure; and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
The meeting underscored the importance of sustained engagement with Nigerians abroad in promoting investment, expertise, skills transfer and partnerships that can contribute to Nigeria’s national development.
