31/08/2022
I thank the Organizers of this Dinner/Lecture, especially Professor Fred Osadebe, who served as the Houston Coordinator, and his team
I thank the Organizers of this Dinner/Lecture and, especially Professor Fred Osadebe, who served as the Houston Coordinator and his team
I am elated to be here. This hospitable City, Houston, is my fifth stop in an eight-day tour of eight cities, in three countries. It gives me personal joy always to meet with my fellow Nigerians and the many friends of Nigeria when I travel
I have been asked to speak on “Active Engagement by Nigeria Diaspora in Capacity Building and Civic Leadership In Nigeria.” Before I do that, let me share briefly, my perspectives on present-day Nigeria and the way forward.
Nigeria is at crossroads. Ravaging insecurity, largely inflicted by non-state actors, is fast threatening the sovereignty of Nigeria.
While our healthcare system remains almost moribund, power generation and distribution are also at an all-time low.
Nigeria is vastly polarized and wracked by deep divisions along religious, ethnic, and regional lines. There is a staggering level of corruption. Our universities have remained closed for six months.
Nigeria today is not the Nigeria our founding fathers contemplated; it is not the Nigeria of our dreams. And it is certainly, not the Nigeria our youths hope and yearn for. All this means that we must fight for a new Nigeria.
As we look toward 2023 and beyond, let me share with you my perspectives on our governance priorities. Our vision and mission are to give full expression to our democracy by moving our country from consumption to production.
Thinking through 2023 and beyond, we must think seriously about leadership that is imbued with competence, capacity, credibility, and commitment. The 4 Cs, will be required to turn Nigeria around.
We will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties; and emphasize patriotism, national interest, national morale, quality of government, political will, and character, which are all complimentary to the other assets.
The relevant security architecture, institutions, and agencies exist. The supporting national security-enabling documents and strategies also exist. The problem is with policy coherence, coordination, and implementation.
We will tweak the security architecture, by offering each arm or agency lead in areas where they have a comparative advantage.
Accordingly, we will tackle insecurity robustly, through an aggressive increase in personnel and equipment and inclusive training of operatives in our security agencies.
transmission and distribution, within the shortest possible time through a public-private partnership. Bolstering our power sector is imperative. We intend to lay special emphasis on critical infrastructure, especially Power, to ensure a clear measurable increase of 200% of today’s generation
We will pursue aggressively modalities for raising the national internet pe*******on, as well as the increased contribution of ICT to overall economic growth and aid national development.
Africa will remain the centerpiece of our foreign policy. We will improve Nigeria’s diplomatic sphere of influence via peacekeeping, trade, and investment initiatives.
Human Capital Development We will aggressively pursue human capital development in the education and health sectors within available resources; with a view to adopting pertinent global best practices in both sectors.
We will have zero tolerance for corruption; lock leakages and cut the cost of governance. Our total commitment to transparency and accountability in government business is the only credible way to achieve limited to zero corruption.
Cognizant of the critical role national Diasporas can play, some countries have set up full ministries, departments, or agencies to engage their nationals in the Diaspora.
trade and foreign direct investment, education, and research as well as healthcare delivery.
Beyond their vital role of sending foreign remittances back home, the Diaspora are increasingly involved in advancing technology and skill transfer, strengthening democracy, opening up global supply chains,
Nigerian Diaspora, represents a broad segment of Nigeria’s human development capital. With that population, the Diaspora family has the capacity to catapult any nation to greatness. Regrettably, Nigeria is yet to harness fully the huge benefits of the Diaspora potential.
The Nigeria Diaspora has the capacity and therefore, must have a voice. By the 2027 elections, Nigeria Diaspora must have a voice via absentee ballots.
Most of you are not here by choice. If things were better at home, you won’t be here. But your role remains important in nation-building.
annual remittances of about $60b, which translates to about 14% of our total GDP.
First, with $20 billion in remittances in 2021, Nigeria ranks 6th behind the top five recipient countries. Expert assessments are indicative that given the huge Nigerians in the Diaspora population, the country has the potential of receiving from the Diaspora,
I see Diaspora remittances as the new normal and becoming Nigeria’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). In 2021 Nigeria’s foreign direct investment (FDI) was a paltry $4.8 billion compared to Diaspora remittances.
Like India, Nigeria should be able to tap her huge Diaspora human resource to ensure technology transfer home. We will trigger every known technological and knowledge transfer initiator. Nigeria’s brain drain will be turned into brain gain.
I thank the Organizers of this Dinner/Lecture, especially Professor Fred Osadebe, who served as the Houston Coordinator, and his teamm
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As we explore ways and means of tapping in on technology transfer from the Diaspora, we will also explore ways of reversing the enormous brain drain that has been debilitating for our country.
It will take only one visionary leadership and disruptive thinker for Nigeria to be put back on the right trajectory. I know that with robust diaspora support we can do it for Nigeria.
Even though the outlook seems bleak, especially with the present state of insecurity ad parlous economy, things, I am certain that with your avid prayers and contributions in both human and material terms, Nigeria will recover.
In conclusion, I feel strongly and can safely assert that the “Active Engagement by Nigeria Diaspora in Capacity Building and Civic Leadership in Nigeria” is possible and desirable.
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Nigeria is vastly polarized and wracked by deep divisions along religious, ethnic, and regional lines. There is a staggering level of corruption. Our universities have remained closed for six months.
Nigeria today is not the Nigeria our founding fathers contemplated; it is not the Nigeria of our dreams. And it is certainly, not the Nigeria our youths hope and yearn for. All this means that we must fight for a new Nigeria. -PO
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