Economy

Gov. Makinde To Unveil Maiden Edition Of Diaspora Day

By Web News 676

Governor Seyi Makinde will unveil the maiden edition of the State’s Diaspora Day.

The event which will take place On April 22 in the Oyo State Capital, Ibadan is themed Promoting Diaspora Investments, Safe Migration and Curbing Human Trafficking.

This is as the governor’s aide on Diaspora Matters; Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu declared that the state would take the lead to drive both the foreign and local investments into the economy.

In a statement issued by the President of the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Ajibola Abayomi, who doubles as the media anchor for the event, Bolanle stated that the Governor’s blue print on diaspora matters was economic friendly.

Expressing the governor’s desire to actualize the aged-long economic diversification advocacy towards making Nigeria less dependent on oil, she called on investors both home and abroad to access the tourism potentials and other resources in the state.

The event will have the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama as the special guest of honour with the participation of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as well as Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Director General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP).

Bolanle said the event would among other things review the investment opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora especially Oyo State indigenes with a view to further develop the state’s economy.

While admonishing the youths to shun irregular migration, she said the state was committed to promoting socio-economic activities aimed at creating more jobs and to restore confidence in the economy.

 According to her, the governor was committed to the eradication of human trafficking and would continue to ensure that the interests of the Oyo State indigenes were protected across the globe.

Noting that youths in the Southern part of the country dominated the list of stranded Nigerians in the Middle East, the SSA pledged to work with other diaspora officials across the nation to further promote orderly, safe and regular migration.

Other notable appointees in the state billed for the summit are Chief Bisi Ilaka, the Chief of Staff to the Governor; Professor Oyewo Oyelowo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Segun Ogunwuyi, the Director General, Oyo State! Investment and private Public Partnership; Princess w Professor Byron Price, the Global Director Diaspora Innovation Institute, City University  USA; Professor Ikechukwu Kanu Anthony from Tansian University Anambra; Dr Williams Ijoma, the President, Organisation pour l’Integrtion Africaine (OIA) Togo; Prince Michael Nku-Abuo, the Director General, Migration Control Services Agency, Cross River State.

Adewumi Faniran

Lifestyle

Oyo Kicks Against Slavery Of Nigerians, Seeks Support From Foreign Minister, NAPTIP

By Web News 591

The Senior Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Daispora Matters, Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu has called for concerted efforts towards rescuing several Nigerian men and women from the modern day slavery in the Middle East especially in Oman and Dubai.

Bolanle, a passionate advocate for decent work for Nigerians abroad made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons, (NAPTIP), Mrs Imaan Sulaiman – Ibrahim at Abuja on Wednesday.

The aide of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State sought assistance of the ministry and NAPTIP to rescue some stranded Oyo State indigines in Oman and Dubai adding that there was need to embark on a fact finding mission why Nigerians  were enslaved in some Arabian nations.

She said the Oyo State Anti Trafficking Task Force was willing to work with the ministry to reintergrate and support the citizens to pick up pieces of their lives back home. 

She also argued that there was urgent need to ensure that the Nigerian-migrants were protected, so that the to the dignity of labour of the Diasporans would be further guaranteed.

Assuring that the ministry would continue to promptly respond to the distress calls from Nigerians abroad, the minister said the Federal Government was ready to work with the Oyo State Government and others to address the menaces modern day slavery. 

Onyeama said the ministry would reach out to rescue every Nigerian in collaboration with the foreign missions but stressed the need for campaign against irregular migration and slavery in the middle East.

At NAPTIP, Bolanle congratulated Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim over her  appointment as the DG of the agency and commended her for her passion for the victims of human trafficking with the dedication to ensuring that every human trafficker is made to face the wrath of law. 

The DG said the agency was committed to thorough investigation on any job offer for Nigerians abroad and would ensure that no agent or agency took advantage of the innocent citizens to lure them to slavery again.

She cited the Philippian Government’s approach to  decent work for her citizens as a template worth emulating and equally pledged NAPTIP’s continued support for the Oyo State Anti Trafficking Task force and the Diaspora Office. Task force and the Diaspora Office.

Adedayo Adelowo