The President, Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians residing overseas to keep their homeland in mind at all times.
Tinubu’s representative, George Akume, shared the former’s personal experience of living and working abroad before coming back to contribute towards Nigeria’s development while speaking at Abuja’s 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations on Thursday.
As he contemplated his personal odyssey, Tinubu recalled the period of the 1970s when he resided in America and engaged in scholarship and employment before coming back to Nigeria.
He underscored how migration can bring about positive change, encouraging Nigerians living abroad to leverage their encounters towards facilitating his government’s progress plan.
Tinubu revealed that having lived and worked overseas, she comprehends the potential of migration to bring about significant change as well as difficulties.
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Upon returning from her tenure in the United States, Tinubu made a commitment to aid Nigeria’s nation-building endeavors. She encourages Nigerian expatriates to remember their roots and utilize the lessons they have learned abroad for supporting our country’s development.
Tinubu recognized the factors driving Nigerians to explore prospects overseas and assured they were not on bad terms with their government. Rather, he emphasized the importance of retaining ties between diaspora communities and Nigeria.
Tinubu acknowledged the influence of migration on our shared progress as we commemorate our diasporic community. Although we appreciate and support individuals seeking better prospects overseas, it is imperative for citizens to remain grounded in their heritage.
Tinubu emphasized the financial impact of Nigerians residing overseas, stating that diaspora remittances totaled $646 million from January to May 2024.
He acknowledged that significant monthly inflows are due in part to recent reforms implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which have bolstered confidence and encouraged greater trust among those sending money back home.
Tinubu stated that remittances amounted to $138.56 million in January, $39 million in February, $104 million in March, and rose to a record high of $193 million in April before reaching its peak at $365 million in May 2024 due to the positive influence of CBN’s mandatory reforms.
Statistics shared by Tinubu indicate that between 200,000 and 250,000 Nigerians are estimated to be living in Canada according to the Nigeria High Commission located in Ottawa.
Additionally, he pointed out that there could potentially be as many as 114 million Nigerian citizens residing abroad with a significant portion of them being present within African countries.
Additionally, Tinubu referenced the most up-to-date information from the Nigerian Immigration Service that highlights a notable surge in migration.
Specifically, between 2022 and September of 2023, approximately 3.7 million individuals from Nigeria relocated out of their home country;
whereas during this identical time frame, around1.3 million immigrants migrated to Nigeria – ranking it forty-sixth worldwide regarding its immigrant population size.”””
Tinubu emphasized the significance of Nigeria’s diaspora community in its advancement during his speech, and encouraged them to stay engaged and make contributions towards the country’s growth.
