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Nigerians Abroad: Why the Waiting?Nigerians Abroad: Why the Waiting?
A Paper Presentation on the 4th Edition of the NTA National Public Lecture "Nigeria First: Investment Opportunities" LIVE Television Broadcast at Georgia International Convention Center Atlanta, Georgia, USA, August 12, 2007
On behalf of Nigerians Abroad, I am welcoming the Nigerian Television Authority to Atlanta, Georgia, the Mecca of the South, the Olympic City where Nigeria won the 1996 Olympic Soccer Gold Medal, the Home of the Civil Rights leader, the crown city of Coca-Cola, the City that host about 100,000 Nigerians, the City of the First Black Professor in one of the best Colleges of Technology in the USA, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Professor Esogbue, a proud Nigerian, and the home of CNN that refuses to articulate anything good about Nigeria.
Thanks to NTA International for bringing this LIVE broadcast to the corridors of CNN, telling Nigeria story as it has never been told before. Something good is coming from Africa. Here is NTA International, the first and the largest Television Station in Africa, broadcasting LIVE to the world, from Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States of America.
What other stories do we have to narrate about Nigeria, more than this LIVE broadcast on the Economic opportunities in Nigeria that have not been told by any other media before? Ladies and gentlemen this is Television Enterprises bringing Nigerian Television Authority International, the best television in Africa, to your homes LIVE from Atlanta, Georgia.
Nigerians Abroad, in their search for knowledge, got 'locked-up' in foreign land and became foreigners in their home country, Nigeria.
The cosmetic advantages of living abroad; adequate water supply, regular power supply, good roads, adequate communication system, good and clean environment, high security for citizens' protection and the rule of law, decency in the governance, freedom of worship, abundant food production, citizens' rights, and the rest of life essentials, are what Nigerian Government needs to make accessible to its citizens. Essentially those are some of the areas where the skills, expertise and experiences of Nigerians Abroad are most needed in the country.
Basically, water supply, adequate power supply, security of life and property, and good roads are areas that Nigerian policy makers SHOULD NOT, and CANNOT politicize. Once these essentials were met, Nigerians Abroad and those at home would be more enthusiastic to contribute their quota, display their enterprising skills and get involved in Nigeria.
On the other hand, Nigerians Abroad should be ready to make sacrifices, which I know some have been doing. Whatever Nigerians Abroad contribute, regardless how little, would go a long way for humanity.
Obasanjo has laid a very solid foundation for a vibrant Nigeria economy. He has also stepped on so many toes, of which the "Servant-Leader", Umar Musa Yar'Adua, Nigerian President, would have to carefully heal. Obasanjo did what was necessary for Nigeria to make a u-turn from its ways and manners of conducting public businesses. He might not be a favorite of many Nigerians, as expected. However, in honesty, prosperity would judge his administration.
Most Nigerians Abroad left the shores of Nigeria for education by all means necessary. I remember going to class in Oklahoma in the snow and fell while rushing not to be late to class, just returning from work, I quickly got up as if nothing had happened to me. Nigerians Abroad would have more stories to tell in addition to raising families, working full time job, going to school, sending money to their aged parents, building homes, and relatives spending the money meant for their projects at home.
Through the challenges of life, Nigerians Abroad continued to struggle to be in line with the Corporate America in all its ramifications. They became lawyers, standing and winning cases before Judges; Attaining the level of Professors in Universities; Establishing private Clinics, and becoming dominant forces in Health industry; Attaining the policy making levels in their respective places of work; Getting elected into political positions; Establishing their own places of worship; Promoting Nigerian culture; Establishing Education Institutions; Contributing to the sustenance of American economy through small scale businesses, and making tremendous contributions to their communities, while compensating themselves with the OWAMBE weekly gatherings. These are some of the ready-made skills that Nigerians Abroad have acquired and could transfer to Nigeria and make the country, the Heart of Africa.
We hope the management of NTA would educate Nigerians at home their potentials and give them a slot in its programs for an hour-long weekly forum to tell their stories on NTA International. Possibly Nigerians at home would stop referring to Nigerians Abroad as Nigerians in Diaspora, or foreigners in their motherland. Nigerians Abroad are looking for some positive answers from the management of NTA International, through TV Enterprises under Mrs. Adenike Onifade, her Deputy, Mrs. Folasade Odusoga, and Engineer Joshua Hassan. The program could be called "Nigerian Abroad This Week".
Without boring ourselves to the complaints and oral history, we could deduct that time is ripe for Nigerians Abroad to transfer their positive skills to their motherland where they are most needed. The excuses of being referred to as Foreigners by Nigerians at home should not deter them from making their contributions to the on-going development programs in Nigeria, beginning from their hamlets, villages, towns, Cities and tell their traditional rulers that they are indigenes of the land.
This led me to the unacceptable use of Diaspora to describe Nigerians living outside the boundaries of Nigeria. An average Nigerian living abroad, today August 2007, would like to go back to Nigeria. As stated initially the purpose of traveling outside the country, at least for my generation, was to seek for education, and take it Nigeria as part of their harvests in making Nigeria a better place for generations to come.
The use of Diaspora to describe Nigerians Abroad could be good for those that have no where to return and call homes. The Bankers and Stock Exchange and their Stock Brokers are cajoling Nigerians Abroad to come HOME and invest their money. If there is no home they won't be calling on them to repatriate their money to Nigeria.
Nigerians, especially NTA International, the office of Nigerian Volunteering Services should stop referring to Nigerians Abroad as Nigerians in Diaspora. In addition, if he were a Nigerian in Diaspora, as he loved to claim in his speeches, he would not have returned to Nigeria, as a Nigerian, to become the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. Bank PHB, with its phrase "Diaspora Account" to entice Nigerians Abroad to open accounts with them is also a misplaced marketing strategy. I wish its management under Mr. Francis Atuche, managing Director/CEO, would make that change, otherwise non-Nigerians that have no HOMES would be its customers.
It is equally wrong for Nigerian Government to use the word Diaspora to describe its lovely citizens residing outside the borders of Nigeria as "Nigerians in Diaspora". Chief Temitope Ajayi should stop using and change from "Mama Diaspora" to "Mama Abroad" or something like that. She should focus on her mission of getting investors to Nigeria, using her new key to the City of Ohio, to open the gate for foreign Investors to Nigeria.
Nigerians Abroad are no foreigners and SHOULD never be aliens in their motherland, and they have places they can call their HOMES, that is, NIGERIA, the Heart of Africa, the home of the largest TV network on the continent of Africa, where they love to return. TV Enterprises should continue telling the stories of Nigerians Abroad.
Perpetual Media attacks on Nigerians Abroad are strong signals to Nigerians Abroad that it is about time they clean up their acts in their respective communities for the sake of their Children. This is not Nigerian Government issue, but Nigerians Abroad's. The only people that could improve upon Nigeria image are NIGERIANS, not Americans, Europeans, or Asians. Nigeria image repair could be best done by Nigerians Abroad, while Nigerian Missions abroad could add more flesh to their lofty programs. Nigerians Abroad have to come up with some strategies to stop the continuous bashing on Nigeria as an outcast. This could be the time when Nigerians Abroad would come together and unite against the bad eggs living in their communities to correct the wrong impression the Western Media continue to label Nigeria and Nigerians. This is not the matter of carrying placards; Nigerians have to put their brain and experiences together. We have numerous successful business men and women, and professionals in all fields of life that could stop this nuisance, among them.
Nigerians Abroad should not waste much of their time debating what CNN, or any local news media say about Nigeria, they should do some positive things in their communities, instead of whining which gets us no where. Volunteer yourself for Community services, be involved in the school programs, volunteer for your local public officials' elections, show up at City, County, School Board and PTA meetings and say something positive and reasonable about yourself and Nigeria, regardless your accent.
When you do all that it would be easier for you to encourage any potential foreign investors, who are familiar with your community involvements, to invest in Nigeria. You could be their business partners or associates. That is how to make it better for Nigeria and Nigerians Abroad; and our Children.
One of the unfortunate developments recently was that whenever little ugly thing happened, in America for instance, the general believe was that the individual WOULD be a Nigerian. We are familiar with the TB patient that most people believed was a Nigerian. As it turned out, the TB patient was not a Nigerian, nor even an African American, but a Caucasian.
Nigerians Abroad expect Nigerian Government to keep on with the good governance of Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Tafawa Balewa, and Sir Ahmadu Bello; the Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation exercise of Dr. (Gen.) Gowon's; the anti-corruption, Civil Service reforms, and improving upon the Presidential system of Government, Murtala-Obasanjo administrations, to be patterned alongside Nigerian culture, not the android way it is being practiced in the United States of America; the War Against Indiscipline of Buhari-Idiagbon's; the election modalities Babangida, the man that conducted one of the best elections ever in Nigeria, the shock absorber of Shonekan's administration to keep the country moving, and keep on praying to God to save the country from those that would like to sit tight in the government for ever, the peace, harmony and unity of Nigeria of Gen. Abdullah; and the new leaf of a "Servant-Leader" in Musa Yar'Adua approach to the management of Nigerian affairs. These are good pointers to the strength of Nigeria that Nigerians Abroad could make their contributions towards.
Nigerians Abroad have been making their contributions to the country. Some Nigerians and Nigerian Associations, such as Obazu Association, have established bore holes in their villages for the benefit of their communities. Some individuals, organizations, have embarked on Medical Missions. DiaBloSure Foundation, Mercy Foundation, Professional Management International Institute, Eko Club, ANPA, and the host of other individuals and Associations, have embarked on free Medical Missions to Nigeria. Within two years, under Professional Management International Institute, Inc., my wife and I have made five Medical Missions to Nigeria. Nigerian Organizations are shipping Medical equipments to Nigeria. From my community, Kwara State Association of North America, Eko Club, and Nigerian Women Association of Georgia. This would continue for a longer time to come.
Nigerians Abroad are owing properties in Nigeria either individually or through their Associations. About 320 Nigerians Abroad have just been approved for some pieces of land in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory. Kwara State Association of Nigeria in North America, KSANG, has acquired a land mass in Kwara State for Kwarans Abroad to erect homes of their choice. I would give it to Kwara State Government for being the first State Government in Nigeria to provide lands for Kwara Citizens residing Abroad. Such properties would encourage Nigerians Abroad to be visiting home on a regular basis, spending hard currencies. That is another source of revenue from tourism for Nigerian Government. Other States of the Federation could follow these two examples.
Nigerian Associations abroad could be a major factor in this development. Nigerians Abroad should not join any Association for what they would gain from it, but for what they could contribute to make life better for the underprivileged people in their communities.
There is strength in numbers, so they say. Belonging to a strong Association could help in approaching the bigger non-profit associations that could assist in getting some bigger projects for your Local Governments, States and at the Federal level as well. Arrange for Free Medical Missions; assist the orphanage Homes in Nigeria as done by NWAG, the less privileged individuals like the Norwegian Disability is doing, continue to award scholarships to the needy as done by Zumunta Association. Zumunta is now going to the second phase of its scholarship program. Such programs would help your communities, not the annual gathering for OWAMBE shows. Adisa Lambe would say, here he comes now. All fraudulers in their Associations should be discouraged and revitalized.
Nigerians Abroad should discourage their friends, associates and partners-in-fraudulent practices and flush them out from their communities. Nigerians could start from their local Organizations, Churches and Mosques, and the umbrella organizations, such as NIDO, Yoruba Nation, Zumunta, or Igbo Union.
What religious leaders should start doing is to start asking, what some suspicious members of their group do for a living. They should infuse the fear of God in them whenever they request for special prayers, to deliver them from their 'enemies', so that their sins would not debar the progress of the religious group. Some professional Organizations should inculcate in their members the ethics of their legal professions.
Nigerians Abroad especially, must support leaders and individuals that are taking important steps to move Nigeria to the level of RESPECT. The mission of each of us and all of us abroad is to create Associations that support growth, enhance potential, and promote appreciation and respect for each of us and all of us in pursuit of our Association goals.
Nigerians Abroad need to get their acts together, sponsor some bills that would address their participation in the election process in Nigeria. Nigerians Abroad Organizations, NAO, could be a strong lobby group for Constitutional changes to make provision for Independent Candidate for all political positions. Nigerians Abroad, have the economic power, the political will, and human skills that could bring about changes in Nigeria. That is a challenge to Nigerians Abroad, possibly through NIDO and the Apex Nigerian organizations abroad, The Igbo Union; Yoruba Nation; and Zumunta Association.
The only means of repatriating Nigerian skills and talents back to Nigeria is through a viable and reliable Nigerian organization that is ethnically and religiously blind, unique, and inclusive in nature. The Nigerian Consulates and Embassies are in a better position to make this happen.
Nigerians Abroad, have played, and still playing, and will continue to play significant roles in the Nigerian economy, and its sustenance. The fact that Nigerians Abroad give audience to the Government officials whenever they visit and show them some good things around that could benefit Nigeria, is very significant in the roles Nigerians Abroad continue to play. Even if Nigerian leaders do not use Nigerians Abroad for its services, at least, it networks them to some other ventures to assist them in their governance. Nigerians Abroad contribute immensely on the media, the internet, newsprint, or video interactive.
Money sent home is making a huge impact on Nigerian economy. Regardless, Nigerians Abroad have a major role to play sending $7.7 billion home alone in 2006, and about $6 million in the first half of 2007. The figure does not include money sent through friends and relatives traveling to Nigeria. Nigerians Abroad would continue to send money home, regardless. Even though most of the money sent home goes to consumption, it should now be diverted into investment.
One of the investment advantages is that when you travel home you do not have to have so much money in your possession attracting armed robbers. You could easily tap from the investment for any of your expenses while in Nigeria.
Some Nigerian journalists might have wrong impression about money sent home by Nigerians Abroad to be for the Nigerian Government. During the just concluded Nigerians Abroad Day in Abuja, a journalist asked, during a Press Conference, what Nigerian Government does with the money sent home by Nigerians Abroad. The money was not sent directly to the Government. It circulates within the Nigerian economy for various projects embarking on by Nigerians Abroad, and for the upkeep of their families.
Nigerians Abroad should be investing their monies on Nigerian Stock Market. Nigeria as of today (July 2007) has been credited as number one fastest growing Stock Market business in Africa, if not in the World. Nigeria is the best place where stock market is growing very rapidly like a fertilized chicken. On the first visit of the Nigeria Stock Exchange to Atlanta, the skepticism was written boldly on Nigerians Abroad faces. Their fourth visits convinced most of us, especially I that, it is time to go into the stock market.
Unfortunately, I have not gotten enough money to invest in the Nigerian Stock market. Each time I wanted to do that Uncle Sam was waiting to take his own share of my income. That notwithstanding, the money spent on hamburger, pizza, barbeque, those food that give us high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, could be cut off for a healthier food, and invest the money on the Nigerian Stock Market.
More important though, Nigerians Abroad could spend less on OWAMBE wasteful parties and have a better life. As of today, August 2007, Nigeria Stock Market ranks among the best in the world where stock market is growing at an alarming rate as earlier on mentioned. Banking is reigning now; Nigerians Abroad should be on the look out for Insurance Industry as the next avalanche of Stock Market growth in Nigeria.
Nigerians must develop partnership to sustain any development in Nigeria through their image, especially in fighting corruption, good governance and invest on Nigerians. Forget about Middle Easterners, Americans, Europeans, Asians, Australians, or even Africans. It is only Nigerians that would eliminate extreme poverty in Nigeria, both the leaders and the followerships.
On a serious note, if I may ask, how many Nigerians Abroad, here today, or those watching this LIVE Broadcast of NTA International, refer to Nigeria as "My Country" during their conversations? May be very few! Nigerians would refer to Nigeria during conversations, as "Nigeria"; while Americans would say; "My Country". If I may repeat that phrase again, "I am Nigeria, the changes start with me".
Regardless how well-off Nigerians Abroad are, failure to do something positive in Nigeria is an evidence that you are not the "Nigeria" we are talking about, and the "Changes" are stocked with you. Nigerians should echo that slogan over and over again. Please repeat after me, "I am Nigeria, the changes start with me."
Thanks and God bless.
Dr. Femi Ajayi
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