By Ebi Kesiena
The Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Benson Alfred Bana has commended Nigeria’s frontline strides in her engagement with her Diaspora towards nation building.
Ambassador Bana stated this when he visited Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja on Thursday.
The Tanzanian envoy assured that nothing will dampen the good relationship both countries have enjoyed since 1972, adding that it will grow in leaps and bounds instead.
Bana said he admired the role the NiDCOM Boss has played all through the years, right from the days of her being a member of the House of Representatives.
Ambassador Bana stated further that he came to tap from the wealth of knowledge and experiences of the NiDCOM team, and also to know how the Federal Government is able to engage her Diaspora to contribute meaningfully to their country, adding that all over the world Nigerians are excelling in all their endeavours .
Responding, Dabiri-Erewa who was delighted to receive the envoy in her office, remarked that the Nigerian president is the number one Diaspora champion, stressing that any country the president visits, he meets with the Nigerian Diaspora and encourages them to be the best in whatever they do, be good Ambassadors and never to forget home.
The NIDCOM boss further commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ratifying and adopting the National Diaspora Policy.
She however urged the Tanzanian government to create an agency that deals strictly with their Diaspora, stating that “it is not about the number but what they are able to do”.
The NiDCOM Chairman noted that despite a few activities of some Nigerians that tends to dent the image of the country abroad, the Commission will always celebrate Nigerians doing well in various countries.
She told the visiting envoy that the Commission is engaging the younger generation of Nigerians in the Diaspora to bring their knowledge back home because “there is no place like home”.
