Tinubu Urges Skilled Nigerians Abroad to Return Home and Support Development
President Bola Tinubu has called on skilled Nigerians living abroad to return home and contribute to the national development agenda. Speaking at the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations in Abuja on Thursday, July 25, Tinubu emphasized the importance of harnessing the expertise of the Nigerian diaspora for the country’s growth.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, President Tinubu shared his own experience of living and working abroad before returning to Nigeria. “I can attest that migration can be transformative and serious,” he said. “In the 1970s, I went to the United States, where I studied and worked, before returning to Nigeria to contribute to nation-building. I urge our citizens who relocate abroad to remember that there is no place like home. We expect them to bring back their experiences to support our development agenda.”
While acknowledging the mass exodus of Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad, known as the “japa” phenomenon, Tinubu refrained from condemning it. Instead, he highlighted the potential negative implications for the country’s collective growth and urged Nigerians abroad to stay connected to their homeland. “We cannot begrudge our citizens who are seeking better opportunities abroad, but we must urge them not to forget their homeland,” he noted.
President Tinubu also reported a significant increase in diaspora remittances, with $646 million received between January and May 2024. He attributed this growth to recent reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which have bolstered trust and positive outcomes in the sector. “The progression reflects the level of trust and the positive impacts of the mandatory reforms implemented by the Central Bank,” he added.
As Nigeria celebrates its diaspora community, the President’s message underscores the crucial role that skilled Nigerians abroad can play in supporting the nation’s developmen
t efforts.
