The senior special assistant to the president
on Foreign Relations and Diaspora, Hon.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa will today address the
UK parliamentarians in Westminster, London
on Nigeria’s efforts in engaging its
Diaspora.
In a statement signed by her Special
Assistant on Media Affairs, Abdur-Rahman
Balogun, she said the meeting was sequel
to an invitation from All Party Parliamentary
Group (APPG) in London to the SSA.
Dabiri-Erewa will speak on “ Partnership in
Practice: Engaging Nigerian Diaspora in
Support of Nigeria’s Development’’.
The letter of invite signed by the APPG
coordinator, Katie Lawson, said the meeting
would afford Dabiri-Erewa the opportunity
for the UK-based Nigerian diaspora to learn
about her role and priorities as SSA.
“ The UK-based Nigerian diaspora plays an
essential part in maintaining the strong
cultural and economic ties between the two
countries.
“With a significant presence in the financial,
legal, educational and health sectors, among
others, the large and active Nigerian
diaspora community can be a dynamic asset
in bilateral engagements and Nigeria’s
socio-economic development’’, Lawson said
in the letter.
The event, which would be chaired by Kate
Osamor MP, the Chair of the APPG on
Nigeria, would afford the SSA to give an
overview of her role as well as her
thoughts on the Federal Government’s
strategy for the inclusion of the diaspora in
Nigeria’s development and the strengthening
of UK-Nigeria bilateral relations.
Dabiri-Erewa would be the first to occupy
such post in Nigeria as the SSA to the
President on Foreign Relations and
Diaspora.
Expected participants at the meeting include
an audience of up to 80 parliamentarians,
policy-makers, diaspora, business
representatives, diplomats, civil society
representatives and academics.