Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Africa, Prof. Jude Osakwe, has reiterated the organisation’s willingness to work closely with President Bola Tinubu’s administration to advance the country’s foreign policy.

Mr Osakwe disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja.

He praised Mr Tinubu’s foreign policy initiatives, saying they were tailored to attract more investors to Nigeria and Africa at large.

Speaking against the backdrop of Mr Tinubu’s one-year scorecard as president, the NiDO chairman said Africa remained a top priority for Nigeria’s foreign policy, aligning with the present administration’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

He said, “One of the key pillars of Nigeria’s foreign policy is the diaspora, which plays a pivotal role in the development of our nation. The expertise, talents, and skills of Nigerians living abroad have made them great ambassadors for the country, contributing to our growth and progress.

“NiDO commends President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda and his foreign policy trust in democracy, development and diaspora. We in the diaspora are happy and we will work with the government to see that the foreign policy as it affects Africa comes into fusion.”

The NiDO boss promised to be dedicated to connecting compatriots living abroad with their home country through such a policy.

This, according to him, will help boost the network of investment opportunities; adding NiDO Africa will empower compatriots to not only increase their financial wealth but also make a positive impact in their fatherland.

“By creating targeted investment opportunities, NiDO Africa hopes to channel funding into projects and initiatives that will have a lasting impact on local communities. Actively participate in the forthcoming “Meet Africa Fashion” festival in Asaba, Delta, with a spotlight on the diversity and richness of Africa’s fashion industry,” he added.

He revealed that the organisation would support and empower migrants and refugees in Africa, as well as form strategic partnerships with the Global Migration Institute, Maryland, USA, the Universal Migration Enlightenment Centre, Nigeria and the Green Leben Initiatives in Germany.

According to him, this is to track the root cause of human trafficking and illegal migration, among others, through accurate and reliable information for vulnerable populations.

He further said the organisation would be committed to advocating stronger laws and policies to combat human trafficking and illegal migration at both the national and international levels.

This, he said, is to tackle issues about passport renewal faced by Nigerians in the diaspora by partnering with the Nigeria Immigration Service so Nigerians abroad will have easy access to passports.

Speaking at the event, consultant at the African Business Forum, Mercy Gilbert, emphasised the need for more investment in Africa, especially Nigeria, owing to the numerous opportunities in the country.

Mr Gilbert said, “Africa is ripe for business and Nigeria is the best place to start because. When Nigeria sneezes, the rest of Africa catches a cold. Nigeria is blessed with a lot of resources and foreign investors are interested in investing in the country in tourism, infrastructure, agriculture and renewable energy.’’ 

(NAN)