Dabiri-Erewa, Egopija honored as New York State Legislators assure of partnership with Nigeria (See pictures)

The Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Ambassador Lot Egopija and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) were specially honored last week during a Legislative Breakfast meeting convened by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas  (NIDOA), New York Chapter at Nigeria House in New York.

The event, which held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), had in attendance, a representative of the New York Senate in the person of Kevin S. Parker, the State Senator for the 21st District as well as the Majority Whip of the New York State Senate; Charles D. Fall, the Assistant Majority Leader, representing Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn; Monique Chandler-Waterman, Assembly Woman representing 58th District, and Ousmane Diallo, Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of Assembly Man, Charles D. Fall, among others.

The meeting discussed areas of possible partnership between the legislators and New York State on the one hand and Nigeria on the other with major commitments being made by the highly respected New York State legislators.

Senator Parker, who is also Chairman on Energy and Telecommunications, assured that he will facilitate collaborations between New York State and Nigeria in different sectors, Assembly man Fall who attended the meeting with his father, a highly respected Energy Consultant, Didier D. Fall, promised that there will be collaboration, especially in the Tourism sector while Assembly Woman Chandler-Waterman, who continually stressed the power in unity, was very enthusiastic about being part of a delegation to Nigeria that would further explore avenues of partnership between Nigeria and New York.

All the dignitaries in attendance voted in support of a trip to Nigeria in furtherance of collaboration in different areas, especially after Hon. Dabiri-Erewa painted a glowing picture of what NiDCOM has been doing with Africans in the Diaspora desiring to reconnect with the mother continent by way of ensuring that they have memorable, safe, secure and profitable visits both for investment purposes and for leisure/tourism.

The convener of the meeting, Hon. Bobby Digi-Olisa, the President of NIDOA-New York, while welcoming all the dignitaries to the event, also encouraged partnership between New York State and Nigeria, assuring that it would turn out to be a win-win collaboration.

He also secured the buy-in of all in attendance towards a historic trip to Nigeria.

Both Hon. Dabiri-Erewa and Ambassador Egopija expressed gratitude at the honor done them by the presentation of the awards in recognition of their outstanding services to Nigerians in Diaspora, especially those within the New York community.

Also among the attendees are esteemed executive directors of various New York City cultural groups like Jamel Gaines who runs a creative outlet; Lorna Harris of Visionary gps; Ayo Ali, a Nigerian artist and poet; Kenneth Mbonu from the Brooklyn Chambers; Akin Akinsanya of African Restaurant in New York, who was the event food sponsor; Edeifo Brittany, who is Ms. Diaspora; Quentin Walcott of Connect NYC and Gbadero Adéyemo, representing the president of DC37, a powerful Union.

Part of the planning committee team and event sponsors present were Jennifer Grace of Funlayo Grace, Wale Munis of Amitrio, Gbenga Okinoye of HAFH Construction, Canvas Institute and Bobby Digi LLC.

It was, indeed, a memorable event, especially considering that the vision behind the breakfast meeting was inspired by the Pan-Africanist work that Bobby Digi has been doing for nearly 30 years with some of the New York State legislators which resulted in their attendance and commitment to partnership with the mother continent.