Nigerians in USA send off Ambassadors Okoyen, Musa, Iwejuo; Heap encomiums on departing envoys

Nigerians in Diaspora, based in the United States of America (USA), Saturday, March 20, 2021, sent off three top diplomats who served in the country and have been promoted and posted out of the US to continue their service to the fatherland elsewhere.

The diplomats are the Consul General in New York, Ambassador Ben Okoyen, the Consul General in Atlanta, Ambassador (Mrs) Aishatu Musa and Consul in Atlanta, Ambassador Innocent Iwejuo.

While Ambassador Okoyen has been posted as Ambassador to Cuba with concurrent accreditation to Bahamas, Honduras and Nicaragua, Ambassador (Mrs.) Musa is posted to Rwanda and Ambassador Iwejuo will be serving in the Multilateral Force in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The elaborate Virtual send off ceremony had Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador (Professor) Tijjani  Muhammed-Bande as Special Guest of Honor, United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Hon. Amina Muhammed as Keynote Speaker and Majority Leader of the New York City Council, Hon. Laurie Cumbo as Special Guest.

Organised by Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Americas, its New Jersey, New York and Atlanta chapters and the Nigerian Community in the US in general, the program also featured such other dignitaries as the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Head, African Union Commission to the United Nations, Moussa Faki Mahamat and the Consuls General of South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire in New York, among others.

Anchored admirably by the Presidents of NIDO in New Jersey, New York and Atlanta, Dr. Kazeem Bello, Hon. Bobby Digi and Dr. Victor Ubani respectively, all who spoke at the well attended program used the platform to eulogise the envoys who, all agreed, had served meritoriously and were leaving laudable legacies for those coming after them to build upon in the interest of Nigeria as a nation and, especially, in the interest of Nigerians living in the US.

The departing envoys also used the event to call for more unity among Nigerians living in the US and urged that the cooperation they have enjoyed be extended to their successors.