Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has recently brought attention to the alarming proliferation of fraudulent Nigerian diaspora groups. In a letter addressed to Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, highlighted the issue under the title ‘Phoney Nigerian Diaspora Groups’.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa expressed concern that these dubious diaspora groups are operating with questionable motives and misrepresenting both the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the diaspora community at large. She emphasized that the federal government established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act 2017. This Act was enacted to facilitate the engagement of Nigerians living abroad in policies, projects, and the overall development of Nigeria.
NiDCOM serves as the primary agency responsible for all diaspora-related matters in Nigeria and maintains a comprehensive database of diaspora groups. Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa underscored the importance of consulting NiDCOM to verify the authenticity of any diaspora group, as the commission collaborates with the Corporate Affairs Commission for their registration.
In her letter, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa specifically cited an instance involving the Nigeria Diaspora Forum (NDF), which advertised itself on various media platforms. Upon investigation, NiDCOM discovered that the NDF was not a registered group, and its intentions for engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora were unclear. Consequently, NiDCOM issued a rebuttal to the NDF’s activities and cautioned the general public and Nigerians in the diaspora about its legitimacy.
As a proactive measure, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa urged the Head of Service of the Federation to inform ministries, departments, and agencies about this development. She emphasized the importance of clarifying any engagements with diaspora groups by consulting NiDCOM beforehand to ensure authenticity and legitimacy.
In conclusion, NiDCOM’s alert serves as a crucial reminder to remain vigilant against fraudulent diaspora groups and underscores the significance of authenticating engagements with diaspora entities through established channels. By fostering transparency and accountability, Nigeria can effectively harness the collective efforts of its diaspora community for national development.
This letter underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of diaspora engagements and ensuring that initiatives align with the overarching goals of national development and representation of Nigerians abroad.
Key Words:
1. Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)
2. Fraudulent diaspora groups
3. Diaspora engagement
4. Authenticity and legitimacy
5. National development
