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.
Nigerians from across Europe will gather on 11-13 November in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, for the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE).
NIDOE is the European zone of the NIDO Worldwide, the body recognised by the Nigerian government as representing Nigerians living outside of their home country. The other zones of NIDO Worldwide are NIDO Americas, NIDO Asia, NIDO Africa and NIDO Oceania.
Holding under the theme Building Together for Diaspora Direct Investment Towards Homeland Development, the 2021 AGM, a hybrid event, will also be attended remotely by members and guests from across the globe.
Dr Bashir Olalekan Obasekola, chairman of NIDOE, will deliver a keynote speech, highlighting the activities of the organisation since he assumed office a year ago. Members are expected to discuss various issues of importance to the Nigerian diaspora.
One of these is the failure of the federal government to appoint a governing board for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), almost two years after the inauguration of the agency.
READ ALSO Nigerians in Europe elect new Leaders at biannual Conference
Members of NIDOE are not happy with the situation and the 2021 AGM is expected to adopt strategies of engagement with the key stakeholders to bring about the constitution of the NIDCOM board soonest.
NIDCOM is the agency established by the federal government by law to serve as an interface between government and the diaspora. The Commission is expected to establish a framework that facilitates diaspora’s contribution to national development.
The law that set up NIDCOM stipulates that it should be governed by a 16-member board; 12 of the members should be nominated by NIDO.
Other features of the three-day event are a business conference, at which the opportunities and challenges of investing in Nigeria will be extensively discussed, and a Gala Night at which awards will be bestowed on persons who have made important contributions to the growth and strength of the organisation.
Among those scheduled to address the conference in Aberdeen are Chief Sarafa Tunji Isola, Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK; Mr Alex Kafas, Nigerian Ambassador to Portugal; Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM; and Hon Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Chairperson, Committee on the Diaspora at the Federal House of Representatives.
Sola Jolaoso
———
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.
More about NIDOE at: https://www.nidoeurope.org/
