Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has praised the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for her dedication and commitment to promoting Nigeria’s image and advancing Diaspora affairs.
Governor Otu, who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, gave the commendation in a statement issued by Mr. Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, saying Dabiri-Erewa’s “doggedness, dedication and commitment to Diaspora matters has earned Nigeria international respect and its Diaspora community.”
Odey made the remark when Dabiri-Erewa led a delegation comprising the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora, Civil Societies and NGOs, Sen. Anthony Siyako Yaro; the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Tochukwu Okere; and State Diaspora Focal Point Officers from the FCT, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kogi, and Cross River States, on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor’s office ahead of the 4th State Diaspora Focal Point Officers Summit in Calabar.
The Deputy Governor lauded Dabiri-Erewa’s contributions to the welfare of Nigerians living abroad, noting that her tireless work continues to reflect positively on the nation’s global image.
“Cross River State is a partner of the Diaspora Community and we will continue to harness the potentials within the Diaspora Community,” Odey assured, while expressing gratitude to NiDCOM for choosing the state as host for the summit.
He also commended the Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), Prince Otu Okor, for his “relentless efforts in making the summit a reality within the shortest time.”
In her response, Dabiri-Erewa thanked the state government for its warm reception and partnership, acknowledging Governor Otu’s support in hosting the summit and in establishing the CRIDCOM Headquarters in record time.
She further appreciated the Senate and House Committees on Diaspora for their “invaluable support” to NiDCOM, and commended CRIDCOM Chairman, Prince Otu Okor, “for hitting the ground running and putting in place the perfect structure within the space of four months.”
Also speaking, Sen. Anthony Siyako Yaro, Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora, Civil Societies, and NGOs, described the Diaspora community as a strong pillar of national development.
He noted that “Diaspora is a catalyst and a strong pillar of image-making for Nigeria, investment and financial strength for Nigeria,” adding that remittances from Nigerians abroad have contributed to increasing the nation’s reserves from “$20 billion dollars to about $40 billion dollars respectively.”
On his part, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, emphasized that the State Diaspora Focal Point Officers Summit serves as a critical link between the states and the Diaspora community.
He said, “Without the states creating the synergy between the Diaspora and homeland, development and growth cannot take place at the sub-regional levels.”
The CRIDCOM Chairman, Prince Otu Okor, also received commendations from both the Deputy Governor and the NiDCOM boss for his leadership and swift efforts in actualizing the summit, described as a milestone for Cross River State.
