Be Useful, Visible And Nigerian, Dabiri-Erewa Tells LASU Graduates

Be Useful, Visible And Nigerian, Dabiri-Erewa Tells LASU Graduates
Task LASU graduates on excellence, diaspora engagement
Urged to harness global networks

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged graduating students of Lagos State University, LASU, to pursue excellence, remain connected to Nigeria and use their skills and global networks to contribute to the country’s development.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that Dabiri-Erewa gave the charge on Tuesday while delivering the convocation lecture at LASU’s 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies.

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The lecture was delivered under the theme, “From LASU to the World: Harnessing the Nigerian Diaspora as the 7th Region for National Development.”

She encouraged the graduates to embrace the opportunities that come with international exposure while maintaining a strong sense of identity and responsibility towards their home country.

According to her, going abroad should not mean losing touch with Nigeria but rather gaining knowledge, experience, relationships and opportunities that can eventually be channelled into national development.

The NiDCOM boss, in a statement issued by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, described the Nigerian diaspora as Nigeria’s “7th Region.”

She said Nigerians living outside the country represent a vast and influential community with expertise, investments, knowledge and international networks that can be harnessed to support Nigeria’s growth.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that the increasing global presence of Nigerians presents significant opportunities for the country, particularly when skills and experiences acquired abroad are brought to bear on nation-building.

Be Useful, Visible And Nigerian, Dabiri-Erewa Tells LASU Graduates

The NiDCOM chairman, who received an honorary doctorate degree from LASU in 2023, urged the graduates to pursue excellence wherever their careers take them while maintaining meaningful ties with their homeland.

She also challenged them to look beyond personal success and consider how their knowledge, skills and networks could create positive change in their communities and the country at large.

“Be Useful, Visible and Nigerian,” she told the graduates, urging them to become positive ambassadors of Nigeria wherever they live and work.

Dabiri-Erewa identified investments, innovation, knowledge transfer, mentorship and strategic partnerships as some of the ways Nigerians in the diaspora could contribute to the country’s development.

She urged the graduates to embrace these opportunities and remain committed to making an impact beyond their individual careers.

Her message to the graduating students was clear: wherever life takes them, they should remain connected to Nigeria, use their opportunities to make meaningful contributions and always remember to give back to their country.