Nigeria, India On Better Diaspora Engagement
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Gangandharan
Balasubramanian has commended Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO,
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), on her strides at engaging
with the Nigerians in the Diaspora globally.
NiDCOM Boss and some management staff to the Indian Embassy in Abuja,
who were specially invited to participate in the recently held India
Diaspora Day 2023, in India.
Balasubramanian recalled that Nigeria and India have enjoyed an
age-long, cordial and robust bilateral relationship in Education, ICT,
Commerce, Culture, Security, Healthcare and many more, while stating
that sharing ideas and knowledge exchange, will be an added advantage in
Diaspora engagements.
The Envoy mentioned that creating a 17 Action-Plan such as the ‘Citizen
of India Card Initiative’, ‘Study in India Programme’, ‘Know India
initiative’ etc., were specially designed to cater to the interest of
Indians in the diaspora.
The Indian High Commissioner said that the “Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas” or
the India Diaspora Day, is a biennial event for Indians abroad, while
awards are given at the end of the ceremony to deserving Indians in the
Diaspora.
He revealed that 27 awards were presented at the last edition, and an
Indian community in Lagos state, Nigeria participated at the event.
Balasubramanian stated that Nigeria attaining 15 out of India’s 17
Action-Plan was impressive and believes that NiDCOM, though young in its
existence has huge potentials to drive the dynamics of Diaspora in
Nigeria and globally.
Chairman/CEO, NiDCOM, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her
gratitude to the High Commissioner on receiving her and her team in
order to gain meaningful lessons from India, currently number one at
effective diaspora engagement in the world.
Dabiri-Erewa, equally thanked him for his support to the Commission,
stating that Nigeria and India have a lot in common especially on
Diaspora matters and engagements.
She is convinced that the collaboration of both diasporas will result to
a huge impact for both countries and the world at large.
The NiDCOM Boss added that the Commission is working hard at organising
its maiden Nigeria Diaspora Merit Awards this year and ensuring the
Study Scholarship for Nigerian Diasporas become feasible.
On the scholarship programme, Dabiri-Erewa said that the Commission has
been in talks with the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFund), to
provide study assistance to young Nigerian diaspora.
According to her, “the scholarship scheme is targeted at students in the
Arts and Languages, to stimulate interest and passion for Nigerian
culture and languages;
“That is what I admire about Indians. Wherever they go, they carry along
their culture and strongly preserve it to pass on to future generations.
That is the goal for our second and third generation Nigerians in the
Diaspora, with the study programme”, she said.
In addition, the NiDCOM Boss seized the opportunity to appeal to the
Nigerian health professionals in the Diaspora to replicate what their
Indian counterparts are doing for their country, urging them to promote
brain circulation through capacity training of medical personnel at
home, exchange programmes and establishment of state-of-the-art medical
centres that will not only create jobs and boost the economy but also
cut medical tourism and increase higher survival and recovery rates in
patients.
Meanwhile, Engr. Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, the Secretary to the Commission
who attended 2023 India Diaspora Day, along with Hon Abdurahman Tarab,
commended the High Commissioner for the opportunity to participate at
the last “Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas” ceremony , during which he observed
some innovations that can be inculcated into Nigeria’s National Diaspora
Day, to make it more impactful.
