Abuja, May 9, 2024:
The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has applauded the Zambian Government for taking the bold step in diaspora engagements.
The commendation was made during a study tour of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission by a Zambian delegation, led by the Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jenipher Mutembo and Mr. Tunde Omoyeni, the Migration Management Specialist, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), South Africa.
Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, the Secretary to NiDCOM, who received
the delegation on behalf of the Chairman/CEO said that the Commission is pleased to have another African country understudy NiDCOM to create a replica Commission in Zambia.
He is equally pleased that their visit coincided with the fifth
anniversary of the Commission, hence providing the opportunity to
categorically list the activities, projects and plans of the Commission.
The NiDCOM Secretary further stated that in the last five years, the
Commission established the National Diaspora Policy that contextually
states the concept, Diaspora, and the mandate of the Commission; created July 25 annually to celebrate the National Diaspora Day, started the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), launched the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, set the Diaspora Data Mapping System; hosted its first National Diaspora Merit Awards, as well as, engaged in townhall meetings with Nigerians at their respective countries of residence and built comprehensive media and communication channels for engagement, among others.
Dr. Bassi explained that issues such as funding, bureaucratic
bottlenecks, trust from citizens abroad and many others will arise in their course of establishment but encouraged the delegates not to
relent in their efforts.
He stressed that if more African countries participate in diaspora
engagement, Africa will fully actualise its potentials through
harnessing the human and material resources of Africans living across
the world.
Mrs. Lucy Namadula, the Coordinating Officer for Diaspora Affairs in Zambia stated that their team has come up with a 30-point plan towards feasible diaspora engagement that cuts across employment, health insurance, diaspora database, home affairs, remittances and investments,
and other social interventions.
She further informed that a special website has been created to provide
real time information for diasporans, as well as a platform to have a diaspora database for about 250,000 of its citizens abroad.
Mrs. Namadula agreed that just like Nigeria, trust, capacity-building
and funding are the major challenges being faced in their country.
Another challenge faced, she said, includes absence of a diaspora law and a dedicated Commission.
However, the Zambian Coordinating Officer for Diaspora Affairs is
confident that in due time, the Diaspora Office in Zambia will attain the level of progress as NiDCOM in its five years.
Also, Mrs Mukamasole Kasanda, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Zambia, commended the Nigerian government for setting up NiDCOM for proper diaspora engagement.
Kasanda stated their objective of establishing a migration resource
centre in her country. She said the Zambian government has set policies
on anti-trafficking and employment.
In addition, Kasanda informed that a technical group on migration data
has been set up, and has reviewed the Convention 97 and 91 which focuses on migration for employment and ethical employment in Zambia.
She added that Zambia has signed a Memoranda of Understanding with
Seychelles, Angola, South Africa and some countries, as regards labour and migration.
The study tour of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission was facilitated
by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), South Africa.
Zambia makes it the ninth country after Zimbabwe, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Tanzania, Namibia, Ghana, South Korea and the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) to under study NiDCOM in the last five years.
