On April 20 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Governor Seyi Makinde will unveil the maiden edition of the State’s Diaspora Day with a theme “Promoting Diaspora Investments, Safe Migration and Curbing Human Trafficking.”
This is as the governor’s aide on Diaspora Matters, Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu declared that the state would take the lead to drive both the foreign and local investments into the economy.
In a statement issued by Ajibola Abayomi, the President of the Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM), who doubles as the media anchor for the event, Bolanle stated that the Governor’s blue print on diaspora matters was economic friendly.
Expressing the governor’s desire to actualize the aged-long economic diversification advocacy towards making Nigeria less dependent on oil, she called on investors both home and abroad to access the tourism potentials and other resources in the state.
The event will have the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama as the special guest of honour with the participation of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as well as Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Director General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP).
Bolanle said the event would among other things review the investment opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora especially the Oyo State indigenes with a view to further develop the state economy.
While admonishing the youths to shun irregular migration, she said the state was committed to promoting social economic activities aimed at creating more jobs and to restore confidence in the economy.
According to her, the governor was committed to the eradication of human trafficking and would continue to ensure that the interests of the Oyo State indigenes were protected across the globe.
Noting that youths in the Southern part of the country dominated the list of stranded Nigerians in the Middle East, the SSA to Governor Makinde pledged to work with other diaspora officials across the nation to further promote orderly, safe and regular migration.
Other notable appointees in the state billed for the summit are Chief Bisi Ilaka, the Chief of Staff to the Governor; Professor Oyewo Oyelowo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Segun Ogunwuyi, the Director General, Oyo State Investment and Private Public Partnership; Princess Professor Byron Price, the Global Director Diaspora Innovation Institute, City University USA; Professor Ikechukwu Kanu Anthony from Tansian University Anambra; Dr. Williams Ijoma, the President, Organisation pour l’Integrtion Africaine (OIA) Togo; Prince Michael Nku-Abuo, the Director General, Migration Control Services Agency, Cross River State.
Photo: The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
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