FG to launch Information Portal for Nigerians at home and abroad - Minister

The Federal Government will soon launch an
Information Portal to keep Nigerians at home and
in the diaspora abreast of government’s
programmes and policies and also get their
feedback.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday
when he received the Senior Special Assistant to
the President on Foreign Affairs and Diapora, Mrs.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on a courtesy visit to his
office.
“I think what is lacking today is that most of our
people in the Diaspora base their views and
opinions, their actions and reactions about what
is happening at home largely on second hand,
third hand or fourth hand information and this is
why this particular portal is very important.
''In particular, it will be provide our brothers and
sisters in the diaspora with first hand information
on what is happening at home. We will also
ensure that this portal will enable us to get a
feedback from them on what they are doing,” he
said.
Alhaji Mohammed also announced that town hall
meetings would be organised for Nigerians in the
diaspora, especially in cities with large Nigerian
communities, as part of efforts to engage them
on the efforts the government is making to
develop the country.
He said there were also plans to launch the
Change Begins With Me Campaign in some major
cities across the world, with a view to reinforcing
the faith and belief of the diaspora Nigerians in
the Nigeria Project and also to carry them along
in the rescue mission to revamp the economy and
ensure the return of moral values that will re-
position the country on the path to greatness.
The Minister lauded the contributions of Nigerians
resident abroad to the development of their host
countries, saying they remain Nigeria’s
ambassadors, whose views are not tainted by
sectional, ethnic or religious prejudices.
He said in times of recession as currently being
witnessed in Nigeria, the contribution of the
diaspora community is capable of reflating the
economy, particularly if the funds they remit come
through the official sources.
“Unfortunately for us in Nigeria, even though a lot
of money comes from the diaspora, it does not
come through official sources. I think that the
Central Bank is also doing everything possible to
ensure that the inflow from the diaspora comes
through official sources,'' the Minister said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa sought the
partnership of the Federal Ministry of Information
and Culture in building a formidable structure that
will engage Nigerians in the diaspora.
While stressing the need for an accurate database
of Nigerians in the diaspora, she said a diaspora
policy would soon be put in place to define and
facilitate the engagement with Nigerians residing
abroad and harness the intellects of Nigerians in
various fields in the diaspora to contribute
positively to nation-building.
“We are coming up with a programme called
PRIDE - The Presidential Initiative for Diaspora
Excellence. We will bring it down to various fields;
we are working on medicine and agriculture. So
we are getting Nigerians in the diaspora in those
fields that are going to come together and make
sure they contribute positively to the progress
and development of Nigeria,” the Senior Special
Assistant to the President said.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa expressed the confidence that
with about $21 billion remitted to the country
annually, Nigerians in the diaspora are capable of
pulling the country out of recession if they are
adequate informed and engaged by the
government, while also disclosing the plan to
float a Diaspora Bond.
Segun Adeyemi
SA to Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
Oct. 25th 2016