Edo State Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki has inaugurated a new Government arm “Edo State Diaspora Agency” a committee for the establishment of an agency to cater for every social affair concerning Edo indigenes living outside the country.
The 8-member Steering Committee for the establishment of the Edo State Diaspora Agency was inaugurated on Zoom on Wednesday the 04 August 2021. During which the Governor emphasised his government’s intention to more actively engage Edo indigenes in diaspora for the development of Edo State.
The appointees of the committee are Anthony Okungbowa, the state’s Head of Service who will serve as chairman, Ambassador Adesuwa Uwaifo (based in Tanzania), Chris Osarumwense, Dr Lorreta Oduware Ogboro-Okor as the head coordinator in (UK) and Soni Irabor. Other members are Dr Johnson Odibo, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Switzerland, Prof Isa Odidi (Canada) and Isaac Ebewele.
The Terms of Reference for the Ad-Hoc Committee are:
1. To prepare a draft bill for the establishment of the Edo State Diaspora Agency law;
2. To prepare a detailed start-up plan for the Edo State Diaspora Agency;
3. To define the resource requirements for the take-off of the Agency;
4. To source for the Chairman and the Director-General of the Agency and recommend same to the Governor for approval;
5. To facilitate internal and external collaborations with stakeholders;
6. To consider any other matter incidental to 1-5; and
7. To make recommendations to Government as may be deemed necessary
The committee is expected to complete its assignment within 30 days.
While there is a national agency, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, catering to issues concerning Nigerians living outside of their home country, states are yet to establish similar institutions.
“Since Edo State has one of the largest communities in the Nigerian diaspora, there is a need to establish Nigeria Government arms Edo State Diaspora Agency, now we have arrived at our desire” Governor Obaseki concluded.
