Shettima Meets Nigerians In New York, Seeks Stronger Diaspora Role In National Development

Vice President Kashim Shettima has engaged members of the Nigerian community in New York, calling for stronger diaspora participation in investment, skills transfer and national development.

Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the town hall meeting, conveyed the President’s greetings to Nigerians living in the United States during the engagement held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Vice President said President Tinubu recognised the importance of Nigerians in the diaspora to the country’s development, noting that the President himself had a history of living in the diaspora, particularly in Chicago.

The engagement was coordinated and moderated by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between the Federal Government and Nigerians abroad.

Discussions at the town hall focused on diaspora participation in national development, investment opportunities, skills and knowledge transfer, as well as the contribution of Nigerians abroad to advancing the country’s economic and diplomatic interests.

The meeting provided an opportunity for government officials and members of the Nigerian community to exchange views on ways of strengthening diaspora engagement and creating more channels for Nigerians abroad to contribute to development at home.

The engagement also brought together senior government officials and state governors attending the UNGA activities.

Among those present were Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; and Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.

Also in attendance 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; and Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.

Others included the 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; and Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, was also present at the engagement.

The town hall underscores the Federal Government’s continuing efforts to strengthen engagement with Nigerians abroad and harness diaspora resources, expertise and networks for national development.

With millions of Nigerians living and working outside the country, diaspora investment, professional expertise and international networks remain significant areas of engagement for the government as it seeks to attract capital, promote skills transfer and strengthen Nigeria’s global economic and diplomatic connections.