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Nigeria moves up 24 points on World Bank Ease of Doing Business index

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The World Bank on Tuesday said that Nigeria now ranked 145th  out of 190 countries in the Ease of Doing Business index for 2018

The World Bank stated this in its just released Ease of Doing Business report titled, “Doing Business 2018: Reforming to create jobs”.

The report indicated that Nigeria had moved up by 24 points from 169th position on the 2017 ranking and also 170th position on the 2016 ranking to 145 in the World Bank’s 2018 report.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria alongside El Salvador, India, Malawi, Brunei Darussalam, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Zambia and Djibouti are the top 10 improved countries worldwide, after carrying out numerous reforms to improve their business environments.

“These economies together, implemented 53 business regulation reforms across 10 of the areas measured by doing business.

“Overall, the 10 top improvers implemented the most regulatory reforms in the area of getting credit, starting a business, dealing with construction permits and paying taxes,’ the report said.

Details of the report revealed that Nigeria now ranked 130th out of 190 countries from its 138 position in 2017, in terms of Starting a Business and 147th from 174th in 2017  in terms of Getting Construction Permit.

According to the report, the country also moved from 180 position in terms of getting electricity in 2017, to 172nd position in 2018 ranking.

Similarly, on the Registration of Property ranking, the country moved from 182nd position in 2017 ranking to 179 in the 2018 ranking.

The World Bank also stated that Nigeria made the greatest stride in improving access to Getting Credit. It moved from 32nd position in 2017, to 6th position in 2018.

On Paying Taxes ranking, the Country moved from 182nd position in 2017 to 171 in 2018 and on Enforcing Contracts, it moved from 139th to 96th position in 2018.

However, the report showed that the country was retrogressing in the Resolving Insolvency ranking, going from 140th position in 2017, to 145th in 2018.

According to the World Bank, 83 business reforms were carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa in the past year, surpassing the previous 80.

“The Sub-Saharan Africa region continues to struggle in the area of getting electricity. On average, obtaining an electricity connection takes 115 days in the region, compared to the global average of 92 days.

“The reform effort in Sub-Saharan Africa is singularly worth celebrating, as the region is beset with myriad crises, including conflict and violence.

“We hope to continue recording the region’s successes in enabling entrepreneurship to address the challenge of job creation, particularly for the region’s millions of young women and men,” the bank said.

Following the country’s 169 ranking on the 2017 Ease of Doing Business index, The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) was set up in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

PUBEC was mandated to remove bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria and make the country a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.

Already, several reforms directly impacting on business owners have been implemented by Ministries, Agencies and Departments with the support of PEBEC.

On Starting a Business, business incorporation process can now be done mostly online on the CAC’s Company Registration Portal

The need for lawyers, accredited agents and chartered secretaries has been made optional, reducing the cost of registration of companies

Timelines for company registration have been revised as follow: Approval for reservation of names (12 hours); Incorporation of companies if application form is completed and required documents available (24 hours).

PEBEC had also succeeded in getting priority bills, including the National Collateral Registry Bill and the Credit Bureau Services Bill passed to make it easier for businesses to get access to credit.

It also simplified the Visa-On-Arrival process to include e-submission of applications to dedicated desk at Nigeria Immigration Service and also eliminated manual baggage searches at airport.

 

http://cityvoiceng.com/nigeria-moves-up-24-points-on-world-bank-ease-of-doing-business-index/

Celebrated Georgia farmer, John McCormick to receive Nigerian Agribusiness delegates

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The US-Nigeria Trade Council USA is pleased to announce that Mr. John McCormick, the eminent “2016 Georgia Farmer of the Year “will be attending and making a presentation at the forthcoming US-Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Summit & Expo, November 16-18, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

In a Town- Hall format, interactive session, Mr. McCormick will share his highly successful farming experience and advanced techniques at the Summit.

The organisers in a statement explained that John McCormick has been a leader in using innovative farming practices to reduce production costs and increase yield.

“He has been able to successfully use variable rate irrigation, global positioning system guidance and conservation tillage to improve his crop farming and was one of the first farmers to test the Irrigator Pro peanut irrigation scheduling method that was developed by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service.

“His yields have consistently been well above average and his early and successful adaptation of modern and progressive agricultural practices have led him to become an efficient and highly productive farmer leading to winning the prize”.

McCormick:“Being a farmer has been a blessing, and from it I have learned responsibility and leadership”.

Through research partnerships with UGA Extension and several agricultural supply companies, McCormick works to provide better farming methods not only for himself, but for other southeast Georgia farmers as well.

Over his 42-year career, McCormick has never stopped experimenting and trying to make his operation better. He is looking forward to sharing his experience with attendees at the US-Nigeria Agribusiness Summit on Saturday November 18, 2017.

A guided informative tour of the expansive farms of Mr. McCormick has been scheduled for Thursday November 16, 2017, where delegates at the Summit will have first-hand experience of techniques of modern farming. Nigerian farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector are expected to be part of the 3-day conference.
Registration is still open for the US-Nigeria AgriBusiness (Non-Oil) Investment Summit. USNAGRIS 2017 (www.usnagris.com) scheduled for November 16-18, 2107 at the prestigious Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

 

SOURCE: http://citybusinessnews.com/celebrated-georgia-farmer-john-mccormick-to-receive-nigerian-agribusiness-delegates/

What Nigerians in Diaspora really want in the Nigeria Diaspora Commission

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No doubt the Commission will live up to its billing to assist in the participation of Diaspora Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs in economic projects in Nigeria, creating conducive political, economic, cultural, legal and spiritual environment. However, this is not about semantics. This is the time to put grandiloquence aside, keep political sentiments in the cooler, elevate national interest above self, analyze the realities, the challenges of living in the Diaspora and examine specific ways the establishment of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission can be mutually beneficial. So, the question is ŒWhat do Nigerians in Diaspora really want to see in the Diaspora Commission¹?

1. The Diaspora Commission should implement skills transfer schemes and programs directed at professionals such as doctors, engineers, professors and information technology experts. For the educational system, this can be achieved in practical terms, through mandating each of the Nigerian Universities, private or public, to reserve at least two faculty positions for Diaspora Nigerian professors who desire to do their sabbatical in Nigeria thus facilitating interchange of knowledge and sharing of Œlessons learned¹. For the non-academic professions, a competitive working environment should be put in place to attract Nigerian working abroad to fill human resource gaps in the country, including through recruitment services that facilitate and coordinate the recruitment of foreign-based Nigerians.

2. Welfare of Nigerians abroad is a fundamental objective of the Diaspora Commission and should go beyond rethoric. NIDCO should establish a Nigerian Diaspora Emergency Assistance Fund (NIDEAF), managed by the Diaspora Offices in countries that have a significant overseas Nigerianpopulation. This is NOT a Welfare system, but an emergency intervention program to help in providing exigent assistance to distraught, displaced or distressed Nigerians in settings where currently Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions abroad often turn their back. While I was serving as the President of the Nigerian community in the State of Georgia,USA, I have had to step in to rescue from the cold, fellow Nigerians who had became destitute, practically homeless, living on the streets, and helped to rehabilitate them and put them in homes/shelters. Quite a few Nigerians have become Œsocially challenged², oftentimes due to not-at-fault extenuating circumstances. Such Emergency Assistance Fund will help the most deserving cases including:

a. Boarding and lodging for distressed Nigeriansabroad
b. Provision of emergency medical care to the overseas Nigerians in need
c. Facilitating return air passage to those who are stranded overseas
d. Assisting with expenditure on incidentals andfor airlifting the
mortal remains back home where a sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so or the family is unable to meet the cost.

3. Healthcare system in Nigeria is in dire straits, to say the least. The Diaspora Commission should establish collaborative relationship with medical institutions and even medical facilities abroad. Many of them are open to exchange programs and surplus equipment donation. NIDCO should solicit more inbound ³HealthMissions², and work closely with ANPA, the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas representing the professional, political and social interests of the 4000 plus physicians, dentists and allied professionals in the Americas.

4. There is no doubt that the financial capacity of majority of Nigerians in Diaspora to make significant investment is several limited, thanks to family members and Œfriends¹ who constantly hound, harass and pester you, for money, even though they live well in Nigeria! In other to facilitate effective diaspora engagement, NIDCO should work with financial institutions and responsible government agencies in identifying specially packaged loans or other low-cost financing options for the eligible proposed diaspora¹s projects to come to fruition. In other words, NIDCO should attract small and medium diaspora businesses through loans, credits, and matching funds arrangements.

5. Incentives such as diaspora-friendly tax regimes for the import of personal belongings and capital goods, as well as tax holidays during the initial period of investment are needed.

6. For Nigerians in Diaspora to be fully engaged in the political growth of the country, NIDCO should expedite the legislative representation of Nigerians in Diaspora in the National Assembly in tow with the passing of the Diaspora Voting rights. This is not far-fetched. Abuja is not a State in Nigeria, but has legislative presence in the House as Federal Capital Territory. We should have ³Diaspora Territory² as a defined constituency to enable Nigerians in Diaspora to participate in the formulation of laws and constitutional direction of Nigeria. Such elected Representatives from Nigerians in the Diaspora will have the similar geographical spread and numbers as in the Diaspora Commission

a. North America-3
b. Europe-2
c. Canada-1
d. Asia/Australia 2;
e. China-1
f. Africa-1
g. South America 1

7. Exemption of customs duty on all donated materials, especially for national emergencies, should be effected. The absence of this has made it difficult to negotiate donation of medical, science and engineering materials to Nigerian beneficiary entities. There have been cases where such goods have been at the port for months, sometimes abandoned or Œconfiscated¹ by Œunknown authority¹.

8. To ensure a balance in the management of the affairs of Nigerians in Diaspora,NIDCO should encourage state governments to have Directorates of Diaspora with emphasis on engaging the Nigerians inDiaspora from their own States, the same way that Nigerian Missions abroad would have a ŒDiaspora Office.

9. That Nigerians in Diaspora remit about $20 billion annually is no longer news. Channeling remittances into productive investments is the challenge. Certain measures can be considered to this end. One such way is to generate development opportunities: NIDCO should encourage banks and other financial institutions to provide remittance investment and housing opportunities. Disseminating information to the diaspora on savings and investment options for remittances. Too many times, ³dependable² family members and friends, under unstructured arrangements have been sad experiences

10. A Diaspora Housing scheme should be pursued by NIDCO

NB: In the same breathe, the Nigeria Diaspora commission should interact on level ground with all organized Nigerian communities in Diaspora, have egalitarian relationship with all registered organizations of Nigerians in Diaspora on the equitableplatform, with the same recognition and support, and NOT give any preferential treatment or Œgodfatherism² to NIDO. Several other Nigerian Organizations in Diaspora have more effectively served the interests of Nigeria Diaspora, promoted sense of belonging, practiced the ideals of ŒNigerianism¹, put service above self and not allow themselves to be motivated by prospects of contracts, political jostling or promises of land allocations in Abuja. ³NIDO Desk² scrapped, and need to be replaced with the ³Diaspora Office² in all Nigerian Missions abroad to adequately reflect the spread, genuineness and diverse coverage of the activities of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission

Conclusion
There is no question that both Nigeria and its diaspora will endure into future generations. NOW is the time for the passage of the Diaspora Commission Bill. Now is the time for Nigeria to create programs that reach out to our nationals living abroad, and harness their potentials for the benefit of the Nigerian economy. It is time to focus on developing stronger economic links with the Diaspora population, and encourage the return of young experts and the amelioration of further brain drain.

The choice before the Nigerian parliament is either to keep the country perpetually in the club of the underdeveloped world or tapinto the overflowing potentials of Nigerians living abroad and make the country a major player in global affairs. The first step in this direction is passing the Nigeria Diaspora Commission Bill to provide the platform for harnessingthis great human capital in foreign lands. Yes, we can. There is no other choice. If our elected officers in the National Assembly truly have the interest of Nigerians at heart, if the Honorable members of the House will honor their commission, then it is the path of honor, for our respected lawmakers to pass the Diaspora Commission BillŠ..Now!

As National Assembly pushes ahead on the bill for the establishment of a Diaspora Commission, Nigerians living abroad must get involved in the passage of the bill. One of the ways to make a difference is to speak to members of the national assembly who are representing their constituencies in Nigeria. No we cannot give up on the National Assembly. Let us recall the words of one of our elder statesmen to ³see hope in the great potentials that Nigerians have, when they are empowered, motivated and well led.² Let us ³ see hope in the blending of the experience of the old with the energy and dynamism of the youngŠ. We must therefore keep hope alive, and continue to bear with one another, as we move, all of us, to the great future that beckons us. There lies our hope for Nigeria. We are at the beginning of a new morning for our nation. The future looks very bright indeed. Clearly I see hope² in the passing of the Nigerians in Diaspora Bill. Now is the time!

Titus O. Olowokere
CEO / Executive Vice President
US ­ Nigeria Trade Council
8491 Hospital Drive, Ste. 432, Atlanta, GA. 30134 Tel.404-939-4030. | Fax: 678-681-1957
Email: tolowok@usnigeria.org <mailto:tolowokere@integral-tech.com>| Website:www.usnigeria.org</mailto:tolowokere@integral-tech.com>

Nigeria Diaspora Commission – The time is NOW!

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“Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, took up the challenge with a passion, blazing the trail of diaspora consciousness, creating astounding awareness on the seriousness and urgency of the interests and peculiarities of Nigerians in Diaspora. On several occasions, she has stressed the need for the Nigerian government to show more commitment to the welfare and management of its citizens in Diaspora. She has visited most places around the world where Nigerians in Diaspora live, held interactive sessions with them, understanding their behavioral characteristics, listening to their meditative declarations and amassing thoughts on how best to harness this vast human resource for the good of the country.”

Overview:

On the heels of the upcoming Nigeria Diaspora week in Abuja (July 22nd – 25th), it is imperative to pause and reflect on the dynamics of the Nigerians in Diaspora, where we are, how far we have come, meticulously extrapolate into the future and march resolutely on the path of the formulation of tangible policy for aggregation, engagement and utilization of this sector of our population.

The fact has reverberated around the world and has been emphatically reiterated in Nigeria, more unequivocally than ever, that Nigerians in the Diasporas, the “scattered seeds”, as it were, the sojourners, the “Nigerians abroad”, that most governments previously ignored and in some cases even denigrated — are increasingly seen as agents of national development. Without prejudice, Nigerians in Diaspora possess immense human, material, intellectual and professional resources. Several Nigerians in Diaspora are extremely skilled and have added immeasurable value to their countries of residence. Lack of a structured institutional framework has inhibited the effective contribution of this important resource to national development. It is therefore necessary to re-visit the necessity for a policy that will mainstream the Nigerian Diaspora in the development agenda.

This article will expound on recognitions of Diaspora Contributions to World Development, review the journey so far with Diaspora mileage in Nigeria, discuss the governmental apparatus of managing Diaspora affairs in other countries, analyze obstacles to the creation of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission, examine what Nigerians in Diaspora really want in the Nigeria Diaspora Commission and conclude with an extrapolation of the tasks ahead and a concerted clarion call

Recognition of Diaspora Contributions to World Development

The contributions of the Diaspora community to global trade, extending the frontiers of technology innovation, anchoring major strides in Healthcare revolutions, as well as value added to good governance in their respective countries of residence, cannot be over-emphasized.

Look at the United States for instance; Nigerians in the Americas today are more than the population of many African countries. Earlier this year, the White House recognized 11 Diaspora inventors and entrepreneurs in US as “Immigrant Innovator Champions of Change”. “Immigrants have long made America more prosperous and innovative,” U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park said in announcing the honors in May 29. “We are proud to recognize these leaders who work every day to grow our economy, advance science and technology, and support their home communities.” An official release by the White House asserted that, “more than 40 percent of the 500 biggest U.S. companies were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants. In 2011, immigrants started 28 percent of all new businesses in the United States, according to the White House”. Even though no Nigerian was named among these Immigrant innovators, several Nigerians are making waves, creating novel break-through and landmarks in leadership, entrepreneurship, public service, and in fact, in almost every sector of the American economy.

In Sept 2012, two US-based Nigerians employed by the American government were honored with presidential awards for outstanding performances. One was recognized with the US Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and Call to Service Award, while the other, a scientist at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, was applauded as one of the top US early scientist recognized by White House. This is the case in many other developed countries with high presence of Nigerians in Diaspora. The question then is ‘How is Nigeria tapping into this rich professional resource’?

A number of countries such as China, India, México and Israel have significantly benefited by capitalizing on their links with their Diaspora. Other countries have also initiated measures and designed policies and legislation to create an enabling environment for the Diaspora to participate fully and contribute to the development of these countries.

The journey so far with Diaspora recognition in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has made some overtures toward the diaspora, but it has not developed a coherent position on such key questions as repatriation, engagement, retirement, and investment. Realizing this potential, the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, headed by Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was set up in 2009 under the then Speaker Dimeji Bankole in the 6th National Assembly. Among the terms of reference of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs is to “To initiate policies needed to recognize and harness the potentials of Nigerians in Diaspora networks and organizations, assist in the realization of their agenda, and promote institutional changes to help public servants collaborate effectively with Diaspora representatives.”

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, took up the challenge with a passion, blazing the trail of diaspora consciousness, creating astounding awareness on the seriousness and urgency of the interests and peculiarities of Nigerians in Diaspora. On several occasions, she has stressed the need for the Nigerian government to show more commitment to the welfare and management of its citizens in Diaspora. She has visited most places around the world where Nigerians in Diaspora live, held interactive sessions with them, understanding their behavioral characteristics, listening to their meditative declarations and amassing thoughts on how best to harness this vast human resource for the good of the country. She has visited countries with similar perspectives to their Diaspora Citizens. Earlier this year, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa led the Nigerian delegation to the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013 (India in the Diaspora Convention). The lawmaker, who was the first non-Indian invited to deliver a paper at the Convention, said the occasion was an eye-opener to Nigerians in the Diaspora.

In pursuit of her terms of reference, the House Committee on Diaspora affairs has proposed a Bill for an Act To establish the Nigeria Diaspora Commission, aka NIDCO. The Nigeria Diaspora Commission by design is meant to be a one-stop agency to handle Diaspora matters, which are now on the forefront of strategic national discussions. The Commission will be charged with the responsibility of “coordinating and organizing a system of collaborations of Nigerians in Diaspora for their contributions by identifying, preserving, and mobilizing the human/capital/material resources and expertise to the general development of Nigeria.”

Now, even though this is a laudable step for the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, as novel and unprecedented as it is, the question remains, though, “Where are we with the Diaspora Commission establishment FOUR YEARS LATER?” My most recent recollection is that this Bill is has passed through all three readings at the House of Representatives level, and is currently waiting approval from the senate. This is the thrust of this article, that by the time this article is published or by the time the Nigeria Diaspora Week takes place in July, this Bill should have passed senate approval. Currently, the Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) is the main agency responsible for Diaspora Affairs in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG). The Diaspora Commission, when established, will supposedly subsume the NNVS.

One welcome expectation of the Bill is the proposal to “Establish Diaspora offices of the Commission at various Nigerian Missions”. This is a sine qua non, as it will replace the need to have the superfluous and improvident “NIDO Desk” at the Nigerians Missions aboard. NIDO role is currently ambiguously defined under the present dispensation. This new “Diaspora Office” is more germane to the operations of the Foreign missions, and should compel NIDO to live up to its billing, to focus on reaching the professional grassroots, grow its membership like every other Nigerian organization and jettison this inglorious, often-abused accolade of “Government baby”, “Government Agent” or such perception of NIDO, that are counter-productive to healthy existence of Nigerian organizations in the Diaspora.

Diaspora commission in other countries

Creating a Diaspora Commission, an entity of management of nationals in the Diaspora, is not a Nigerian originality. Many other countries around the world have put structures in place to proactively and effectively harness their Diaspora resources. In fact Nigeria is a ‘late comer’ in this space. Some countries in Africa already have full Ministries of Diaspora. A number of countries have developed comprehensive policy packages. For instance:

♦Our neighboring country, the Republic of Benin developed a National Policy Plan for Beninese abroad, launched in 2001 and supported at the presidential level. It comprises a National Policy Declaration and establishes a new ministry in charge of relations with Beninese abroad.

♦In May of 2004, a cabinet-level department, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), was created with a mission to connect the Indian Diaspora community with its motherland by providing information, partnerships and facilitations for all matters related to Overseas Indians.

♦The Government of Grenada on 11th September 2009, same year the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs was created in Nigeria, launched a vibrant initiative to bring the development of a Permanent Grenadian Diaspora Agenda under one Desk, with the creation of the Office of Diaspora Affairs.

♦In the Philippines, government has recognized this potential as early as 30 years ago, creating the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, mandating it to provide services to overseas Filipinos.

♦Colombia launched a new program “ColombiaNos Une” monitored at presidential level and has achieved good results. Colombia also works with the countries that are host to Columbian Diasporas, especially with the United States. A pilot project for a “Consular Registry Card” is being implemented in Washington.

♦The Ethiopian government established the Ethiopian Expatriate Affairs and the Ethiopian Expatriate Support and Coordination Office as part of the country’s capacity-building efforts.

♦Ghana has the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations

♦Mali created the Ministry of Malians Abroad and African Integration

♦Senegal formed the Ministry for Senegalese Living Abroad

♦Tunisia instituted the Ministry of Social Affairs, Cooperation and Tunisians Abroad

♦Similar structures for guiding Government approach to Diaspora matters are in place in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, Sierra Leone, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Dominica, Serbia, Somalia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Chile, China, Mexico and several other countries.

The fact is that the world will not wait for Nigeria on the issue of Diaspora integration. We must step up and catch up with the world on all issues in an increasingly globalized economy. So, the question remains, “Where are we with the establishment of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission FOUR YEARS LATER?”

Obstacles to the creation of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission

In the light of the foregoing and considering the cost-benefits analysis, the institution of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission is a sine qua non for national development. So why has the Diaspora Commission, aka NIDCO, not yet been established? What’s in the way? The NIDCO Bill was almost killed last sometime last year, having been in the legislative mill for a couple of years. It is incomprehensible that some of our lawmakers opposed the Bill, arguing, though erroneously, that the bill should be discarded for “these people are not deserving of such a platform because they are doing more harm than good to the country.” Phew! Megida, Oga, Onyeshi, how far from the incontrovertible facts can that be! There have also been some aboriginal sentiments to keep the status quo, arguing that any changes would jeopardize regional interests and frustrate some political advantages conferred on certain sections of the country. But it turned out to be sheer sentiments and unfounded fears. The material obstacles are the lack of understanding of Diaspora matters, “playing politics”, and resistance from “home-bred” Nigerian professionals, submitting that they have stayed with the system and want to keep the “Nigerians Abroad” at arms length.

Throwing all such obstacles out the window, the unequivocal reality though is that the establishment of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission is a win-win situation for the Nigerians in Diaspora and Nigeria itself. NIDCO will be and should be commissioned to deal with Diaspora matters and harness our human resources that are outside the shores of our country. No one loses anything. It paves way for a lot of Nigerian professionals and business people abroad, who remit over $20 billion annually to Nigeria to contribute to their quota to the development of our country, give back to their roots, bring their expertise, knowledge and sometimes equipment, and have a structured platform to connect with the system. Can it be any better than that? It reminds me of the saying that what we are seeking in “Sokoto” is in fact in the pocket of your “Sokoto”!

What Nigerians in Diaspora really want in the Nigeria Diaspora Commission

No doubt the Commission will live up to its billing to assist in the participation of Diaspora Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs in economic projects in Nigeria, creating conducive political, economic, cultural, legal and spiritual environment. However, this is not about semantics. This is the time to put grandiloquence aside, keep political sentiments in the cooler, elevate national interest above self, analyze the realities, the challenges of living in the Diaspora and examine specific ways the establishment of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission can be mutually beneficial. So, the question is ‘What do Nigerians in Diaspora really want to see in the Diaspora Commission’?

Repositioning the Nigerian identity in the Diaspora

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Repositioning the Nigerian identity in the Diaspora

The issue of Nigerian Identity has become an international ideological battle. With the large number of Nigerians in Diaspora, most of whom are in the United States, it becomes imperative to explore how Nigerians in Diaspora can re-discover themselves, build cohesive community in the Diaspora, be good ambassadors of their country, portray a positive image of Nigeria and contribute positively to the growth of their fatherland. This is particularly relevant coming closely on the heels of the recently concluded Nigerians in DiasporaWeek, a concept to fundamentally celebrate our oneness as Nigerians, highlight our Nigerian identity, regardless of resident country, and doing this in all professional seriousness, technical richness and governmental enabling environment.

Who are really the Diaspora Nigerians? There are actually three categories of Nigerians in the Diaspora. We have the Diaspora “Alumni”, who have lived abroad for several years, attained definite heights in their professional or academic pursuits and chosen to return to Nigeria. They arenever fully divested of the vestiges of ‘abroad’. On the other side of the palisade are the “Substantive” Nigerians in Diaspora, the mainstream Nigerians in Diaspora who live and work abroad, speak all the refined ‘oyinbo’ phonetics, almost lost their dialectical accent, and come home for occasional funerals, marriage of some distant relations they haven’t seen for 35 years and for Christmas every other leap year! Their children hardly speak a word of their Nigeriandialect. Straddled delicately on the picket, are the “Passive” Diaspora Nigerians who have chosen to combine the better of two worlds, straddled across the aisle, and who “eat their cake and have it,” as it were. They have homes in Nigeria and abroad, live a few months in thehomeland, a few in the ‘hostland’, maintain family abroad, retain business interests in Nigeria and sustain corporate and family presence across the aisle.

How did we get to this point? A cursory analysis is helpful here, of the hypothesis of emigration, nicely dubbed “Brain Drain” to have a better perspective of why Nigerians “check out” like Andrew! Is it because of bad Government? Not at all. Is it because the economy is so bad? Not particularly. Is it because of family pressure? Nay. Is it because there is no job after graduation from College? Nope. These are social factors not peculiar to Nigeria. The fact, though, is that migration is a natural phenomenon in theAnimal Kingdom. Birds migrate; land and sea animals migrate for survival, for natural balance, for procreation and continuity of life. Lots of Americans, Russians, Germans, Britons and other nationals have migrated to, and lived in Nigeria for several years on marital grounds or more popularly for business reasons, totake advantage of economic potentials in Nigeria, that Nigerians overlook. Several very successful companies of foreign origin, of dominant foreign equity participation or with large number of expatriate staff in the middle and upper echelon, thrive in Nigeria. All over the world, people migrate for combination of reasons, which include political motivations, for adventure, to discover themselves, for economic advantage, for religious expedition.

Thus, it is self-defeating to summarily blame the government, blame the economy, the healthcare system, and the educational system as the reasons why Nigerians sojourn to other countries. No, we are not ignoring the fact that several sectors of the economy are in bad shape. The fact remainsthat this same system has produced the likes of Professor Ade Adefuye, Professor Aluko, Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Shoyinka, and several yo

unger Nigerians who have excelled locally and internationally. The professional excellence, dizzying academic heights, and astounding medical feats of several Nigerians in Diaspora have had their birth, there gestation period, their incubation and formative years right here in the same system. There has indeed been brain drain. However, if there is no ‘brain’, there is nothing to ‘drain’. That ‘brain’ is the product of local resource, from this same economic and educational roots where those who had ‘no shoes’ growing up, have become presidents, where former ‘street hawkers’ have become professors, and where mailroom boys and children of poor peasants have turned out to become formidable corporate executives and renowned medical practitioners.

The concept of Nigerian Identity is nebulous to define. A strong national identity builds a sense of belonging. Basically, ‘identity’ is an individual’s or a group’s sense of self over time. The Nigerian Identity is therefore a composite concept that has multiple components such as economic status, cultural customs, political institutions and religious tenets. Nigerian National identity is not something the government invents. It is more a feeling than an opinion and not a policy statement. Identities grow from the thingspeople feel proud about, and if enough Nigerians agree on them for long enough, identity is formed regardless of multiculturalism. External Nigerian identity is how Nigeria presents itself to other peoples and countries. A strong external identity helps us to have a strong diplomatic presence internationally and to advance national economic interests. Major export-oriented industries, such as education and tourism, rely for their success on a positive external image or ‘national brand’.

Nigerians in Diaspora face an identity crisis. The nextgeneration of Nigerian-Americans will know less than their parents know about our history and founding ideals. And fewer Nigerian Americans are aware that what unites us is more than of what divides us. We are in danger of becoming a lost nation in Diaspora. Several Nigerians hold travel passport of their country of residence and would rather present these for identification purposes. They feel like “what is there to be proud of about Nigeria”? Indeed there is. I will explain.

A country like the United States of America has been branded as a successful nation by the successful products associated with it; from Microsoft software and Boeing airplanes to McDonald’s hamburgers and Coca Cola drinks. Japan is associated with quality products produced by global brandssuch as Sony, Toyota and Nikon. The strengths of these brands and the economic power they have delivered to their owners have propelled these nations to leadership in the global economy.

What product, what brand, what values define Nigerian identity abroad? Believe it or not, Nigeria has some of the best “products” in the world. It has been said that the largest export of Nigeria in recent times, is not oil & Gas, but the quality of the Human Capital. We, Nigerians in Diaspora, are some of the products of Nigeria that actually need rebranding, to re-position the Nigerian Identity positively. We, Nigerians, have a can-do-spirit that can conquer any mountain. We are no more corrupt a nation than most developed nations of the world; we are a rich country thatmust channel its strength in the right direction. Rebranding campaign is first a call for us to arise in all our internal structural processes. When we arise inside, we can beat our chest to the world.

Our Nigerian National Identity is the essence of who we are as Nigerians. We need personal, corporate and institutional reformation to achieve reformational repositioning of our national brand identity. But the question is, how do we resuscitate the battered image of Nigeria particularly in the Diaspora? Is it in the name of rebranding campaign or the processes and strategies? How do we as a nation hope to sweep the decay of several decades under a beautiful carpet of logo and slogan? The solution to the problems of Nigeria does not lie in change of Leadership or laws alone, repositioning the Nigerian Identity does not require any government regulation, policy statement or systemic infrastructure, it simply lies in change ofhearts of YOU and ME. “I am Nigeria. The change starts with me”, to quote the email signature of Jumoke Taylor, a US-based, former NIDO activist.

To illustrate, take the hypothetical case of a wealthy, successful man whose father has a visible irreversible physical deformity like blindness, a limp or speech impediment, would he on account of this situation belittle, hide or speak disparagingly of the parents? Not at all! Rather, he would cherish the parents, take them out where necessary, and be proud of his parenthood. He will cherish his heritage, adore his root and the values he grew up with. He will continue to love his parents, regardless of the glaring deficiencies. Now in our national identity, that father, with that glaring deformity is Nigeria.

As Nigerians in Diaspora, how do you relate with or perceive that ‘father’? What type of language do we use on e-group discussions? Do we disparage Nigeria in our respective local communities abroad? These are some points to ponder, folks. Do we even deny our nationality as Nigerians in our diaspora lives? What is there to be ashamed of? Are we solutions providers or chronic complainers? Are we proud of our national ‘father’, our fatherland, even with the presence of glaring ‘physical’, economic, governmental and social deformities? Are we only after what we can get from the country (contracts, positions), rather than what we can do for the country (open investment opportunity, job creation projects,etc)? How does our conduct in the Diaspora present us as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria? How does our choice of association help in promoting the theme of the recent Nigeria Diaspora Day, to be tools for investment and development? Are we ‘beer parlor politicians’ or perpetual nay-sayers? When we discuss with members of our hostland abroad, do we think in terms of “How can this benefit my country”? How can this translate to a project back home? You should search your hearts. The answers to the foregoing questions tell how you help to re-position the Nigerian Identity in your hostland, in the Diaspora.

Let me conclude by quoting the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Prof. Ade Adefuye on his maiden visit to Atlanta. He propounded a theory that ‘God is a Nigerian” since God appears to been partial to Nigerians, giving us abundance of natural endowments, mineral deposits, oil, extensive arable lands, strategic geographically blessed location, excellent human capital, better than most other countries in Africa. Thus, if God is a Nigerian, by virtue of this “partiality”, then, this is indeed “God’s own Country”, that we should not only be proud of, but nurture until economic prosperity flows torrentially and abundantly.

We should live up to the sentiments in our old National Anthem “Nigeria we hail thee, our own dear native land, though tribes and tongues may differ”, though our respective places of abode may vary, though our respective callings are diverse, though we might be diaspora alumni, in-transit or substantive, “in brotherhood we stand”.

About the Author: Titus O. Olowokere:

— TitusOlowokere is the Executive Vice President / CEO of the US-Nigeria Trade Council, President Emeritus of the Alliance of Nigerian Organizations in Georgia, USA (ANOG) and Director of Administration of NICORE, an organization that facilitates the economic development of Nigerians and their communities in the United States of America. He writes from Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America

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