Nigerians In Disapora, Building An Indivisible Nation

By Idara Ukpanyang, FRCN Headquarters

It is a known fact, that the number of Nigerians in diaspora in recent time, is at all time high.

This is evident in the increasing number of Nigerians that have left the shores on a daily bases in search of greener pastures, a phenomenon now known as “Japa”.

Evidently, the National Identity Management Commission had indicated that the number of Nigerians in diaspora with National Identification Number has risen from fifty-five thousand as at February last year to over 366,000 in February this year.

This speaks volume! Reasons for such exodus cannot be far fetched.

They include unemployment and underemployment, poor enumeration, ailing economy, lack of social infrastructure, insecurity, poor standard of education, weak institutions, just to mention a few.

None the less, as the saying goes that every cloud has a silver lining, the mass exodus of Nigerians from their homeland can also be a blessing, if effectively harnessed, aferall, many countries of the world are today’s relaying their success stories largely due to the contributions of their citizens in the diaspora.

Nigeria is known for its rich multi-cultural diversity, which also extends to its diaspora community.

This means through the power of diversity, Nigerians in the diaspora, can contribute in building an indivisible nation.

For instance, they can serve as cultural ambassadors by organizing events that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the country.

Apart from preserving the country’s culture, such events equally promote cross cultural understanding.

language preservation is another area to explore. Factually, the second and third generations of the children of most Nigerians in the diaspora, have lost touch with their country of origin.

It is behooving on the first generation who are still cultural and emotional attached to their homeland to teach the younger generation their indigenous languages.

This can be done through organizing language classes. Economic contributions are yet another area.

Just last year, the diaspora remittances to the country through official channel stood at 21.9 billion dollars.

The figure, according to experts, represents four times the value of foreign direct investments in the country.

Such funds do not only assist families back home but can be invested strategically in national development projects which will have ripple effects on the economy.

Political engagement is also vital.

Through advocacies, the Nigerian diaspora community can play a vital role in shaping the nation’s political landscape, for instance, championing the course of diaspora voting.

It is also important to encourage them to participate in politics at home and offering political appointments.

This was the case during the Obasanjo’s administration when the likes of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Akinwumi Adeshina, Amina Mohammed and several others were brought back to serve their country and their wealth of experience help to reshape the country.

As a step further, there should be collaborations between Nigerian institutions and diaspora academics.

Such initiatives can facilitate knowledge sharing that could bridge skill gaps and facilitate groundbreaking research as well as innovations.

Moreso, Nigerians in the diaspora are making waves globally in academics.

Recently, a Nigerian, Ifeoma Amuche emerged the best graduating student from Southwest University, Chongqing, China.

Interestedly, she majored in Chinese language and literature.

Few weeks ago, another Nigerian Igboanugo Somadila graduated with a cumulative grade point average of 5,0 at Rostove State Medical University in Russia.

In the United Kingdom, the Nigerian Imafidon family, is named as the smartest family in that country.

However, the government has a crucial role to play in attracting her citizens in the diaspora.

To achieve this, there must be integrity in leadership, good governance, transparency and accountability, a reliable judiciary system, security and strong institutions.

Where such are lacking, building an indivisible nation with Nigerians in the diaspora would be a herculean task.

Edited By Grace Namiji