A conference bringing Nigerians from across the globe together will hold on 2 October.
The Nigeria Global Diaspora Conference, a one-day hybrid (physical and virtual) event, focuses on how to better engage Nigerians in diaspora in the development of their homeland at a time it’s going through many challenges.
Organised by the Society of Young Nigerians in Diaspora for International Collaboration and Transnational Engagement in collaboration with several other organisations, the event will hold live in Nigeria at the Centre for Management Development, Magodo, Ikeja, Lagos at 10am (11 am Central European Time), Saturday 2 October and will be simultaneously broadcast online to reach a global audience. Remote participants can take part in the activities of the conference by Zoom.
The Nigeria Global Diaspora Conference will, among others, dwell on migration and development and how diaspora engagement can be driven to support national developmental efforts. The event, featuring lectures and panel discussions, will also focus on the current challenges facing Nigeria, such as insecurity and unemployment, and what role the diaspora can play in addressing these challenges.
Confirmed speakers for the event include:
Dr Andrew S. Nevin, Partner & Chief Economist, PwC Nigeria, who will deliver a paper entitled Nigeria Go Survive: Why Nigeria Will Never Be a Failed State
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission; Paper: Soldiers of Our Motherland: Changing the ‘Japa’ Narrative
Mr Kingsley Aikins, CEO of The Networking Institute, Ireland; Paper: Nigeria’s ‘New Oil’: Exploring and Maximising The Untapped Potential of The Diaspora
Chudi O. Kalu – CEO, Middlechase Property Ltd; Paper: Rental Income – A Guaranteed Diaspora Investment Vehicle
Brigitte Sesu – Director, Africa Bridge Ltd; Paper: The Importance of Story-telling: Brand Nigeria
Mr Kabir Mohammed, Director, Learning & Development, at the Centre for Management Development, Lagos; and Mr Abiodun Odunuga, the Vice President of Friends of Nigeria, France, will also give expert talks at the event.
Another major feature of the event is the launching of the “Nigeria Diaspora Project 40/40”, which highlights the emigration history of the Nigerian diaspora since 1981. The theme of the project is, 40 years after checking out, what lessons can Nigeria learn from Andrew?
READ ALSO Project 40/40: Narrating the Nigerian diaspora history
The project, according to the convener of the conference, Adeniyi Sanusi, is to avail Nigerians at home a better understanding of the reality of diaspora life of millions of their compatriots who live outside of their homeland.
Sanusi, who is based in Romania, hopes that by highlighting lessons learned and sharing best practices, the project would convey a realistic picture of migration to young Nigerians and promote a better understanding of diaspora Nigerians and their home-based compatriots.
A book, containing 40 stories of Diaspora Nigerians will be published as part of Project 40/40.
Femi Awoniyi
Registration for the event is FREE! Click on the link below to register now https://ngadiasporaproject4040.com/event-registration
For more information about the Nigeria Global Diaspora Conference, visit: https://ngadiasporaproject4040.com/