NIDOE appoints committees to reposition organisation

In pursuit of its goal of more inclusiveness and widening its horizon, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), under the leadership of Dr Bashir Obasekola, has appointed several Ad-Hoc Committees to help it achieve its objectives.

The Committees are:

1. Ad-Hoc Committee on Youths inclusion

Mandate and objectives: Inclusion of the youth is paramount for NIDOE to continue as a going-concern. Therefore, this Ad-Hoc Committee shall be responsible for the development of individual and corporate Youth membership of NIDOE at large.

For the purpose of this mandate, the Youth is herein defined as persons of Nigerian descent from ages 18-35 years resident in Europe, including second-generation Nigerians born in Europe.

The Ad-Hoc Committee has the following objectives:

• Design the framework of engaging the Youth in NIDOE at Chapters and Continental levels;
• Develop Youth membership recruitment drives and incentives;
• Identify and develop framework for bringing on board the second-generation persons of Nigerian descent in Europe;
• Identify projects that can empower the youths to engage NIDOE;
• Develop a framework for officially launching NIDOE Youth wing; and
• Any other issues pertinent to the realisation of the above mandate and objectives.

The Committee members: The Ad-Hoc Committee consists of nine (9) members drawn from various geographical regions of Europe in order to allow for broader inclusion and inputs.

i)         Mr Nick Nwolisa

ii)        Mr Michael Afolabi

iii)       Mr Kazeem Ojoye

iv)       Dr Opeyemi Lawal

v)        Mr Akeem Badmus

vi)       Ms Yemi Abiodun

vii)      Mr Maria Ehilebo

viii)     Mr Afolabi Ajayi

ix)       Mr Adeniyi Sanusi

2. Ad-Hoc Committee to draw-up framework for the engagement with NIDCOM and the mode of working with other Nigerian diaspora organisations

Mandate and objectives: NIDO Europe in collaboration with other sister organisations was instrumental in the agitation for the establishment of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). Therefore, it is natural that NIDO Europe cannot be indifferent to what becomes of the commission.

The relationship between NIDO Europe and NIDCOM should be symbiotic and mutual. This means that both entities must respect and benefit from each other for the sole aim of achieving the objectives of their establishment. Aside from NIDO having its representatives on the Governing Board of NIDCOM, there are other operational chains, where NIDO should be ready to take part and make itself available for NIDCOM. From the spirit of the NIDCOM Act, NIDO is a strategic partner, whose partnership with NIDCOM is expected to strengthen the operations of NIDCOM in various countries, increase its effectiveness with less financial costs for the budget of the Federal Government.

NIDO was created as the umbrella organisation and point of contact for the Nigerian Federal Government in its engagement with the Nigerian diaspora across the world. NIDO is therefore meant to galvanise all the numerous Nigerian organisations in the diaspora. This behooves on NIDO to work out modes of bringing all these proliferated organisations on board, even when they continue to exist on their own.      

Therefore, this Ad-Hoc Committee is being constituted to draw-up the framework for the engagement with NIDCOM and the mode of working with other Nigerian diaspora organisations.

The Ad-Hoc Committee has the following objectives:

• Design the framework of engaging NIDCOM in line with the NIDCOM Act 2017;
• Identify and develop mode of bringing on board other Nigerian diaspora organisations so as to achieve the umbrella status of NIDOE;
• Design framework for engaging with numerous Nigerian community, social/cultural, professional and other sundry organisations in Europe and other continents;
• Any other issues pertinent to the realisation of the above mandate and objectives.

The Committee members: The Ad-Hoc Committee consists of nine (9) members drawn from respectable and knowledgeable NIDO Europe members and stakeholders:

i)   Ms Lola Mabogunje-Visser

ii)  Engr Omo George Iduhon

iii)  Dr Emmanuel Oparaocha

iv)  Mrs Feyikemi Adeboye

v)   Mr Femi Awoniyi

vi)  Dr Lawrence Ibekwe    

vii)  Chief Victor Lamar

viii)  Dr Felix Otuseli

ix)    Dr Pedro Eiya

3. Ad-Hoc Committee on inclusion of sports-icons in NIDOE

Mandate and objectives: There are many people of Nigerian descent that are very successful in sports (football, boxing, table-tennis, athletics, basket-ball, etc) in Europe, who are therefore, sports icons. These categories of professionals are ambassadors of goodwill; hence NIDOE intends to tap into their influence and capabilities to promote the organisation, by extension Nigeria and impact on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

This Ad-Hoc Committee on inclusion of sports-icons is being set-up to engage persons of Nigerian descent, who are sports-icons in Europe to become individual and/or corporate members of NIDOE at large.

The Ad-Hoc Committee has the following objectives:

• Identify persons of Nigerian descent, who are sports-icons in Europe;
• Develop membership recruitment drives and incentives targeted at these sports-icons;
• Develop framework for bringing on board this category of persons in Europe;
• Design the framework of engaging these sports-icons in NIDOE at Chapters and Continental levels;
• Develop a framework for officially launching this special project; and
• Any other issues pertinent to the realisation of the above mandate and objectives.

The Committee members: The Ad-Hoc Committee consists of nine (9) members drawn from various geographical regions of Europe in order to allow for a broader inclusion and inputs:

i) Chief Toni Tuklan

ii) Mr Alex Osarogue

iii) Mr Edmond Osio

iv) Engr Yemi Ogundele

v)  Chief Andrew Iduh

vi) Mr Augustine Osamwenyobo

vii) Engr Solomon Ogbaji

viii) Mr Henry Uzor

ix)  Mr Collins Ogbonna

4. Ad-Hoc Committee on Venture Capital (boosting NIDOE financial base)

Mandate and objectives: Whereas, NIDOE is a non-profit organisation, registered under the UK Company Act as a Charity for the advancement of Nigerian diaspora and Nigeria development, hence its financial activities may only generate profit, which can be plundered into the realisation of its aims and objectives and may not be shared as dividends to its members.

Venture capital is a form of private equity and a type of financing those investors provide to start-up small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are believed to have long-term growth potential. Venture capital generally comes from well-off investors, investment banks and any other financial institutions.

This Think-tank on Capital Venture is being set-up to advise on how NIDOE can successfully and legally engage in Capital Venture, diversify its financial potentials and use this Venture Capital to promote its mission of homeland development.

The Ad-Hoc Committee has the following objectives:

• Identify sources and method of mobilising fund for Capital Venture or any other pool of fund for the same purpose of providing start-up capitals for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) ;
• Develop mechanism of managing such Capital Venture within the window of available regulations;
• Develop framework for identifying sectors to benefit from such funds in Nigeria and/or Europe;
• Design the framework to boost financial base of  NIDOE at the Continental level, including the Chapters;
• Develop a framework for officially launching this special fund; and
• Any other issues pertinent to the realisation of the above mandate and objectives.

The Committee members: The Ad-Hoc Committee will consist of nine (9) members drawn from various financial experts, or persons who have deep expertise in the field of fund raising and management.

i)  Engr Kalu Okoroafor

ii) Chief Nwodo Valentine 

iii) Dr Henry Oguine

iv) Dr Tokie Laotan-Brown

v)  Lady Edith Nwachukwu

vi) Chief James Onuegbu

vii) Mr Zeph Ikeh

viii) Mr Philip Ebalu

ix)  Chief Ejike Obidike 

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The Ad-Hoc Committees are expected to submit their reports and recommendations within 2 months of their inauguration.

About NIDOE
Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) is the continental umbrella Diaspora organisation with a chapter network in 18 countries and a Board of Trustees with headquarters at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
The mandate of NIDOE is to promote the welfare of the Nigerian Diaspora and pursue national development through advocacy, networking, partnerships, and bilateral cooperation.
In doing so, NIDOE leverages its enormous numerical strength and offers an excellent platform through which Nigerians and their partners channel their activities to Nigeria.

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