THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
As Nigeria commemorates the 60th independence anniversary, a call has been made to the country’s citizens in the diaspora not to despair.
In a message addressed to Nigerians in Germany, Dr RosaLyn Dressman, President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany (NIDOG), noted that the challenges facing their homeland had been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She however said that instead of despairing, the diaspora should identify how to make their impact better felt in the collective efforts to address these challenges.
“The good news here is that you are a part of the civil society that will bring new wind and change to Nigeria through engagement in your various communities,” the NIDOG leader opined.
“Take a shot at the Nigeria in your mind and start creating that Nigeria today in your immediate environment.”
Dressman, who is also the CEO of the international social and development organisation AfricanTide Union e.V., also called for more efforts in support of youth development.
“I would like to ignite the fire in you! Imploring you to start supporting, if you have not already been doing so, capacity building for skills, technology, engineering and entrepreneurship, creativity and crafts, music, contemporary arts, sports,” she said.
“By so doing, we shall be harnessing the unlimited human capital of our youths.”
“Even after 60 years, we realise that there is always room for improvement and diaspora contributions. We can certainly proactively do that by expanding our horizon of freedom and opportunities for fellow Nigerians both home and abroad,” she added.
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Dressman also called for greater unity among Nigerians as this was necessary if they were going to achieve the home country of their dream.
“As individuals, our opinion of how to make Nigeria a better place indeed varies. However, the desire for a better Nigeria remains and that should unite us all,” she said.
Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on 1 October 1960.
Sola Jolaoso
