AFRICA

Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa/Photo: NIDCOM The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, recently clocked 61. Rosemary Moribirin pays tribute to a woman who through her work has significantly raised the profile of Nigerians living in the diaspora in their homeland ——- In the grand tapestry of life, we gather to celebrate a luminous figure in Nigeria’s …

Mohammed Idris* writes on the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who assumed office on 29 May, to reposition Nigeria on the global stage as he seeks international partners in his efforts to revamp his country’s economy. He says the country’s citizens “stand on the threshold of a Nigeria that is a true global giant”. Having hit the ground running …

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Nigeria in October to further strengthen economic ties between both nations, Nigerian presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, has announced. Ngelale explained that the visit was agreed on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in New Delhi, India, where President Bola Tinubu and the German leader met. “Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. …

Nigeria’s new Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticized the delays experienced by Nigerians to obtain their passports. According to him, Nigerians should not be made to wait endlessly before getting their passports. He has therefore directed the acting Comptroller General of the Immigration, Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, to ensure the reasons for the delays were addressed. Tunji-Ojo said this on …

The immediate past Nigerian ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has been sworn in as the country’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs. Alhaji Tuggar was one of the 45 ministers sworn into their various offices on Monday in Abuja, marking an end to the long wait of Nigerians for a new federal cabinet to be constituted since President Bola Ahmed …

Nigeria to establish a research centre on diaspora issues in its quest to more actively engage its citizens living outside their homeland The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N1billion for the establishment of a diaspora research centre at the University of Ibadan (UI). Sonny Echono, TETFund executive secretary, in a statement signed by Abdulmumin Oniyangi, said the centre …

During a recent trip to the DRC, on the invitation of His Greatness Dominique Khonde Mpolo, Universal Minister for Peace of Nations and Continents (CULPAC), members of the European Parliament’s Development Committee also had a meeting with Denis Kadima, President of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), in Kinshasa. Dr Pierrette Herzberger Fofana, German member of the European Parliament representing …

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured Nigerian doctors abroad willing to return to the country that the Nigerian Army is ready to absorb them into its military hospitals. Lagbaja gave the assurance while receiving Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and other members of the top management team of the Commission at …

Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea declare support for Niger coup as the regional ECOWAS puts pressure on the military rulers of the country to return power to the democratically elected leadership In a dangerous turn of events, military-ruled Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea have declared their support for the coup in Niger. President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on 26 July in …

Although the impact of the removal of subsidy and abrogation of the multiple exchange rate regime has been harsh, they offer Nigeria a big opportunity to fundamentally change its economic course, argues Femi Awoniyi, Editor/Publisher of The African Courier ————— Nigerians are hurting, now is time to take the bull by the horn! For eight-long years, economists and international financial …

A former chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), Dr Alistair Soyode, has called for the appointment of qualified Nigerians living abroad into government positions in their home country. Speaking during a live panel discussion on the Nigerian private broadcaster AIT on Friday, Soyode said the diaspora with their knowledge, networks and experiences would add value to governance in …

Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament representing Germany on the platform of the Green Party, was recently in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo to speak to young people. She writes about her impressions of young Congolese and her views on how they can take charge of their homeland’s destiny—- By Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, …

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday assured Nigerians in the diaspora that his administration would give special priority to diaspora engagement in its Renewed Hope agenda. Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at the opening of the 17th National Diaspora Day (NDD) event in Abuja, the president said that his administration would be a diaspora-friendly government and …

Nigerians from across the globe will converge on their country’s capital Abuja on 25-26 July for this year’s Nigerian Diaspora Day (NDD). The annual event brings together Nigerians resident abroad and representatives of the federal and state governments and their agencies as well as of the organised private sector to discuss areas of partnership in national development. The theme for …

According to a new directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recipients of remittances from abroad henceforth have the option to receive their money in naira. This is in addition to the existing alternatives of being paid in dollar and eNaira. The directive, addressed to banks, international money transfer operators (IMTOs) and the general public, was contained in a …

Hon (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has re-emphasised the need for diaspora skills transfer for efficient service delivery in the healthcare sector in Nigeria. Ms Dabiri-Erewa stated this when she received Dr Monica Simi Alabi, a Nigerian-UK based specialist in Healthcare Policy and Leadership, in her office in Abuja. The NiDCOM chief noted that …

President Tinubu called for a collective action from member-states, pledging that under his leadership, frameworks would be harmonized to actualize the dreams of ECOWAS ABUJA, Nigeria, July 10, 2023/APO Group/ — In a unanimous endorsement that signals the trust and confidence reposed in him by his counterparts, President Bola Tinubu emerged the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West …

Aisha Ali-Gombe, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Louisiana State University, USA, has expressed her readiness to give back to her home country by supporting the improvement of the standard of teaching Computer Science in Nigerian universities to meet global standards. Prof Ali-Gombe was recently appointed director of the university’s prestigious new Cybersecurity Clinic, which received a $1.5 …

The Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, is looking to the diaspora for investment in his self-professed determination to transform the economy of the southeastern state. Mbah, who assumed office on 29 May, launched the Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum (ES-DIF) recently, with the objective to attract increased investment from the state’s indigenes in the diaspora. Enugu …

Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, member of the European Parliament, writes on a recent visit of the European Parliament’s Development Committee to Zambia where its delegation met the country’s president and discussed the recent African leaders’ initiative to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. —– From 19 to 21 June 2023, the European Parliament’s DEVE Development Committee carried out a joint …