The Chairperson Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said that in the last three years, Nigerians in the Diaspora remitted over $25 billion as home remittances to the Nigerian economy annually through official and non-formal channels. Abike who was represented by the secretary of the Commission, Dr Sule Yakubu in Abuja during a book launch entitled “Nigeria and her Diaspora Human Capital and National Development ” written by a Nigerian In Diaspora Dr. John George said “This is about 6.0% of our GDP and upwards of 80% of our annual budget.
He said, ” This has impacted on the livelihood of Nigerians in terms of education, health, housing and technology/skills transfer. In terms of Diaspora home remittances, Nigeria is rated as number one in sub Sahara Africa and this is still growing especially with the advocacy and mobilisation programs of the newly established Nigerians in Diaspora Commission. The author of the book, Dr John George said the book was dedicated to all Nigerians across the world who are making positive impact and contributing to the development of the country.
Speaking at the launch Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said that #ENDSARS protest is as a result of poor investment in the empowerment of the Nigerian youth who posses the real capacity as the power house of the economy. He said, ” If our DNA as Nigerians does not change, it means that the factors hindering such achievements in Nigerians are basically here in Nigeria. It remains our collective duty to work tirelessly to eliminate those factors that constitute impediments to the empowerment of our growing population in Nigeria. The protest we have seen today on our streets are as a result of our poor investment in the empowerment of our youth who should posses the real capacity to be the power house of our economy. Indeed our human capital must become our priority if we must accelerate to our development in all sectors of our economy. I want to challenge our Brothers and sisters in Diaspora one more time, to take a deeper look into investment that would engage our youth.
