Nigerians in the diaspora have been urged to invest in Nigeria and take on the responsibility of building the country of their dream.
The chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa gave the charge at the third annual conference of the Nigerian-American Business Forum (NABF), held at Tampa, Florida in the United States, a statement by the President NABF, Mr Kenneth Shobola said.
She charged Nigerians in the diaspora to change their negative perception about Nigeria and assist in its building process.
Dabiri-Erewa said: “Nobody can ignore the Nigerians in the diaspora because Nigerians are the best wherever they are found anywhere in the world.
“We have the best doctors in the world but just look at the state of our hospitals; it is a shame. So no more excuses, you have the best engineers and you now have the Diaspora Commission. Let’s join hands to build the Nigeria of our dream.”
Also speaking as the Keynote Speaker on the theme: ‘Improving Nigeria’s Economy: Opportunities and Challenges’, former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi, called on all Nigerians in the USA to translate their skills and know-how to building Nigeria like the Jews, Indians and Chinese did.
He told them that Nigeria has opportunities for investment adding that they should “Channel your investment back into the country; be part of the change at home. We have no other country to call ours except Nigeria,”.
While urging NABF to focus on Nigeria and help turnaround the economy, Obi challenged government to create the right environment that supports businesses to thrive.
Ms. Jane Castor, Mayor of the City of Tampa, Florida, who was at the event said that Nigeria was in a position to recreate itself.
She added that there should be a strategic plan to resuscitate the economy and build the country to become a great nation.
