Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the Nigerian diaspora must continue to act as agents of change to transform the nation’s fortunes.
He stated this Thursday during the annual general meeting of Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) holding in Dortmund, Germany, which he joined virtually.
The ex-president said the Nigerian diaspora must not wait until the nation’s systems run efficiently before investing their talents and resources to its growth.
Jonathan recalled how as president he actively engaged the diaspora “in a coordinated fashion”, and hailed the current administration for creating the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to achieve similar aim.
“The Diaspora has always been an important part of Nigeria’s development journey. You act as agents of change because of your capacity to deploy your expertise, facilitate investments and leverage international connections to boost economic and industrial development.
“As President, my administration had a policy of actively and robustly engaging the Diaspora in a coordinated fashion.
“I expect the Diaspora to be more involved today in promoting entrepreneurship and development, especially with the birthing of the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission of this present administration.
“This is not the time to wait until our country and its systems begin to run efficiently before you consider investing your talents and resources to its growth.
“Nigerians should not see themselves as foreigners in the Nigerian project. This is the time for all of us to fire up our patriotism and explore more ways of helping to build our nation,” Jonathan said.
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