Anambra Is Ready For Investments- Soludo's Chief Of Staff, Ezeajughi

By Ejike Abana

Nigerians in the diaspora have been called upon to come and help develop the country especially in this critical time.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi was speaking at the National Diaspora Day, a Hybrid event held in Abuja and online.

The event which was organized by the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM had the theme, "Diaspora Engagement in globally challenging time".

In attendance were Nigeria Diasporans and foreigners.

Mr. Ezeajughi was part of a panel called "Celebrity Interview with Diaspora Role Models" co-participating with Prof. Hauwa Ibrahim from Havard University, Aliyu Al-Makura, Vice President of Bank of America and Francis Obiorah Obikwelu, a sportsman from Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Anambra state.

 According to the Chief of Staff, "developing human capital today is at the fulcrum of what the future holds and Anambra State is open for diasporans to come home invest."

Mr. Ezeajughi, a former Mayor of London Borough of Brent spoke about his background, tracing back to his days in student union activism while in Nigeria and his movement into United Kingdom politics.

While responding to the question of whether diaspora-voting is possible in Nigeria, Mr. Ezeajughi said that if millions of Nigerians in the diaspora contribute as much as twenty billion dollars annually to the country's economy, diaspora-voting is easy to adopt in the Country and called on the legislators to make it happen now and quit mere talks; "the Nigerian lawmakers ought to need to do it like yesterday", said Mr. Ezeajughi.

He recalled that he eventually contested and won an election in the UK because of the transparent and open way of his life, pointing out that he partnered alot of charity organizations and attracted a number of investments into the country.

Earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Mr. Seun Ibrahim said that government had partnered the diaspora in healthcare, agriculture, transportation, real estate, among others. 

"Nigerians in the diaspora have played a role, quite alright, we commend the efforts by NiDCOM which is yielding results".

"We call on Nigerians living in the diaspora to key into the present administration's development agenda."

Other speakers at the event include, United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, Deputy Secretary General of United Nations, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank, ADB, Abidjan, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, among others.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa was also on hand to set the tone of the event.