Prof Muyiwa Falaiye, the Director of the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies(IADS), at the University of Lagos, on Thursday reminded the Nigerian Diaspora of their responsibilities in projecting Nigeria’s positive image abroad.
Falaiye also told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos that it was incumbent on Nigerians abroad to rethink how best to contribute to the socio-economic development of their country.
The Director, who acknowledged the yearly remittances from the Nigerian Diaspora to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, added that Nigeria currently needed more of their contributions to its national development.
“We know that a lot of Nigerian Diaspora make remittances back home and by so doing, they are contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but currently the country needs more than just that from them.
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“One thing that should be of concern to the Nigerian Diaspora is for them, instead of going out there to destroy the name of their country, to begin to project a positive image for Nigeria.
“We want the Nigerian Diaspora to encourage those who want to return home, so that we can integrate all of our resources in achieving national development,’’ he said.
Falaiye said that it was imperative for Nigerians abroad not to allow themselves to be deceived by whatever benefits there were currently enjoying in other countries.
The director said it was vitally important for them to know those countries they were currently living in were developed by their nationals.
Falaiye said that with the exposure, knowledge and expertise that Nigerians abroad had gathered over the years, they should join in the socio-economic transformation of their nation.
“Let me say that even if they are for now accepted by other countries, they should always bear in mind that one day, they will have to return to their country.
“We, therefore, need not close our minds to this blessed country, thinking that our current host countries were developed by angels.
“We must always be reminded that these countries abroad were built by their own nationals,’’ he said.
