Senate President Ahmed Lawan has restated the commitment of the National Assembly to the welfare and well-being of Nigerians living anywhere in the Diaspora.
Lawan stated this during the official presentation of a compendium entitled ‘+600 Diaspora icons at 60’ by Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, and management staff in Abuja.
The Senate President commended the doggedness, passion and determination of the NIDCOM boss in bringing diaspora issues to the front burner right from her days in the parliament and now as chairman/CEO, NIDCOM.
On diaspora voting, Senator Lawan expressed optimism that Nigerians anywhere in the world would soon freely exercise their franchise once INEC is through with the bill.
This position was corroborated by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, emphasizing that the National Assembly is working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put mechanisms that will ensure Nigerians anywhere in the world exercise their freedom to vote.
Senator Lawan promised to support NIDCOM in its task of engaging the Diaspora, especially with the adoption and ratification of the National Diaspora Policy in tandem with Nigeria’s foreign policy.
Presenting the compendium, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa said the document is a compilation of extraordinary and exceptional exploits of Nigerians in the diaspora in different sectors.
She further said NIDCOM is primarily building trust with the Nigerian Diaspora global community to fast-track investment back home through various programmes.
Other programmes of the commission, she added, include Diaspora Door of Return, Diaspora Data Mapping, Diaspora Portal Mechanism, Diaspora Lecture Series, Annual National Diaspora Day, and appointment of 33 Diaspora Focal Point Officers across the states, among others.