By Mike Ekunno
A recent World Bank report shows that Nigerians in the Diaspora remitted the sum of ten billion US Dollars to Nigeria in 2008. This represents 4.7 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The report ranks Nigeria as the sixth highest recipient of Diaspora remittances in 2008. The end of year season is one in which many foreign-based Nigerians return home. There can therefore be no better time to talk about their contribution to national development than now. The remittances highlighted by the World Bank Report happen to be just one of the many ways the Nigerian Diaspora has positively impacted national development. Today members of Nigeria’s foreign legion contribute to Nigerian newspaper as columnists and opinion writers.
Thanks to the internet, the dividing line that existed between home-based and foreign readership of newspapers has been blotted out. The opinions and perspectives brought to bear on national issues by these off-shore contributors are invaluable national resources. Members of the Nigerian Diaspora also provide an automatic pool of supporters whenever the national football team is playing an away match. By this, they complement the efforts of the team’s Supporters’ Club. As the FIFA World Cup in South Africa approaches, the strong Nigerian expatriate presence in that country is already warming up to support the national team. Over the years Nigerians in Diaspora have contributed to community development in the areas of medical facilities, scholarship schemes and other poverty alleviation initiatives especially in places where they hail from.
Perhaps it is now expedient to explore more areas of encouraging them to do more like involving them during the nations’ elections. Who says they cant vote from overseas anyway? In times past, the Diaspora referred to the Jewish dispersion away from their homeland. Overtime, this Jewish Diaspora comprising captains of industry, college faculty members and influential businessmen became a strong pressure group and foreign outposts of Israeli diplomacy.
It exerts enormous influence on media and public opinion in their host countries such that at election times, the non-antagonism of the Jewish lobby is often the beginning of wisdom. With the increasing numerical and financial clout of the Nigerian Diaspora, nothing prevents it from fulfilling this diplomatic role for Nigeria. One area where this can be put to good use will be in reversing the negative image associated with our country, Nigeria and her citizens. It is a fact that much of Nigeria’s negative image is un-merited and unwarranted. It is a product of media stereotyping. The Re-branding Nigeria Project of the Federal Government is therefore geared TOWARDS exposing the positive side of Nigeria to avail critics a more balanced basis for their opinions.
While this battle for the minds of men is being waged internally, the Nigerian Diaspora can leverage on this to become the foreign outpost of the Re-branding Nigeria Project whose motto is Nigeria – Good People, Great Nation. The recent negative publicity generated by the alleged ATTEMPTED BOMBING of an American aircraft by a Nigerian terrorist, Farouk ABDULMUTALLAB should not deter our good people all around the world from being proud Nigerians wherever they may be residing. Good enough, the Family of the misguided young man has come out openly to condemn the act without reservation. AND the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili has declared its intention to cooperate with the US authorities on the matter. Members of the Nigeria Diaspora in different parts of the world should use the opportunity of their home visit at THIS FESTIVE SEASON to avail themselves of samples of Re-branding materials which they may then go back and mass produce in their countries of abode.
These materials which proclaim: Nigeria, Good People, Great Nation should serve as triggers to challenge wrong perceptions about the country. New York City, for example, has millions of T-shirts emblazoned with “NY” its acronym, and worn by people around the world. Nigeria can surely afford to do the same with her Re-branding campaign. Global multi-lateral agencies released rankings in the past have Nigeria in unenviable positions. In comparison, the World Bank Report on Diaspora Remittances is like a breath of fresh air.
Source FRCN.Recorded live from the daily commentaries
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