NiDCOM, India collaborate on harnessing diaspora contributions to nation building

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Indian High Commission in Nigeria are set to collaborate to harness both countries’ wealth of experience on contributions of persons living in the diaspora to nation building.

The duo made the commitment when Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM paid a courtesy visit to the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria,  Mr Shri G. Balasubramanian, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa said, “The Commission had learnt and would contiune to learn from india’s Diaspora Convention called; Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in Jan. 2023.”

The 17th PBD was successfully held as a tribute to the overseas Indian communities.

The PBD also is a platform used to commemorateI India’s diaspora migration to various parts of the world, the challenges they faced abroad, achievements and contributions to nation building.

Dabiri-Erewa said that the purpose of coming together was about sharing information and knowledge, adding: “India had been in this diaspora business for long.

“We’ve learnt a lot from the convention in India and realised that we have almost 15 out of the 17 programmes lined-up at the event that we have initiated in the last three and half years of our existence.

“We are looking forward to the remaining two which are the Diaspora Merit Award and the scholarship for our youths in diaspora who want to study at home, which India is excelling well.

“I realise when you talk about medical tourism India diaspora had achieved that, they’ve been able to come back to India to set up hospitals for medical tourism.

“In Nigeria, we have the best doctors in the world, so what is stopping us, and what can we learn from them?

“The good news is that our doctors are beginning to do the same, as I speak to you over 12 hospitals had been built in Nigeria by these diaspora doctors,” she said.

Speaking earlier, the Indian High Commissioner lauded NiDCOM’s strides in achieving and channelling the diaspora remittances back home for nation building.

He added that the partnership was apt and they were looking forward in actualising and achieving what it would bring for both countries that had the largest population of citizens living in the diaspora.

The envoy also promised to share and contribute their vast knowledge with NiDCOM, adding, “We also want to learn from the commission on how they’ve been able to manage the 16 to 17 million Nigerians in the diaspora.

“We are very keen to further our relationship including in the diaspora matters and see how we can exchange ideas and learn from each other in terms of managing the diaspora.

“I was in one of such events that you organised on investment forum of diaspora investment, which was very well attended and wellcovered.

“These are some of the new areas we want yo emulate you because we do not have an investment forum in India,” he said.

The just-concluded 17th PBD Convention had as its theme: “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.”

Some of the 17 activities for the PBD were plenary session on the role of the Indian diaspora in promoting healthcare ecosystems, leveraging the soft power of India, among others.