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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Lagos State University (LASU) will on Thursday, March 24 confer its Honorary Doctorate Degree on the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for her contributions to the development of the Nigerian economy, particularly on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, disclosed this at a press conference at the Senate Building of the institution on Wednesday to inform journalists on activities lined up for the ceremony.
This online media platform recalls that no fewer than 112 graduates of LASU would be awarded First Class degrees at the institution’s 25th convocation holding on March 25.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa assumed the position of Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.
Since her appointment as Chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has always been at the forefront of working for the underprivileged and has embarked on a series of interventions in response to the welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
She harnesses the potential and encourages the contributions of Nigerians in Diaspora towards the development of the country, as well as, caring for their welfare all over the world.
One of the recent was the commission’s successful evacuation of Nigerians stranded in ongoing war-torn Ukraine and its intervention on attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and their evacuations back home in 2019.
Amidst the Covid-19 crisis, the commission joined hands with the ministry of foreign affairs and Nigerian missions to evacuate stranded Nigerians around the world. There have been multiple evacuations of Nigerians from several countries as a result of the joint effort.
From June 2020 to March 2021, some 19,085 Nigerians were evacuated and brought back home from various countries for reasons of deportation, human abuses and trafficking, voluntary returnees and the general effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dabiri-Erewa has shown a great deal of commitment in protecting the human capital she targets to mobilise for the socio-economic, cultural and political development of Nigeria. She eagerly beams the searchlight in responses to issues affecting Nigerians abroad.
She engages actively within and outside the country towards advancing the course of Nigerians in the Diaspora. She was part of the 25th anniversary of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas where she was amazed at the rating of Nigerian doctors as the best brains in the Americas.
Another strategic step taken by the commission is the setup of the Ad hoc National Committee of the Nigerians in Diaspora Investment Fund. The move is in recognition of the huge and yet accelerating role of Diaspora remittances in Nigeria’s economic growth and development. The committee was mandated to determine the mission and objectives of the fund as well as stipulate the procedures for its utilization and management.
While she was at the House of Representatives; Dabiri-Erewa chaired the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
In 2015, she was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s illustrious career did not start at NiDCOM. She started her meritorious service at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) where she spent 15 years, where she stood out for her ability to use journalism to bring succour to millions of Nigerians, especially children, women and the less privileged.
Abike represented the people of Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from June 2003 to June 2015, she served as Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs (June 2003 to June 2008).
As Chairman Media, she worked at giving the House a credible image through absolute openness and transparency, And as Chairman House Committee on Diaspora Affairs (June 2008 till 2015), her major spotlight was in her advocacy and calls for justice and fairness for Nigerians abroad. From China, Pakistan, Libya, to the USA, Northern Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Brazil and many more countries, her intervention was impactful.
She has won over 350 awards both internationally and locally. Some of these awards include Bridge builders Award in Washington, International African Woman By Women 4 Africa in London; Catholic Young Men Association (CYMA) Award for Leadership; UNICEF Child-Friendly Award, Certificate of Recognition from California Legislative Assembly; This Day 50 Women At 50 Achievers Award, Nigerian In Diaspora Organization Globe Awards F.R.N people’s choice Awards, to mention a few.
This online media platform recalls that Lagos State University during the 25th convocation will be producing 112 first-class graduates, which is the highest so far to be churned out by the institution.
The institution will also be graduating 7,232 students with 4,994 in the bachelor’s degree level, 1,792 are at the postgraduate level and 451 for diploma.
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Other activities lined up for the convocation include honourary awards to be conferred on the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullah I Umar Ganduje, and Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum.
Others include Chief Goodie Ibru, Chairman, Ikeja Hotels and Mrs Ibunkunoluwa Awosika, Fou der/CEO, The Chair Centre, Lekki, Lagos.
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