General News
NIGERIA in Diaspora Organisation-Americas (NIDOA) has restated its commitment to supporting compatriots towards sustainable growth and development of the country.
NIDOA reiterated this in a communique issued by Dr Ezekiel Macham, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of NIDOA after the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Conference in Atlanta. which held from Oct. 14 to Oct. 16.
The AGM and World Conference had as its theme: “A Unified NIDOA for Transformational Impact on Nation Building”.
He said the event served as a platform on which to examine the past, present, and the future of the organisation in relation to the development of Nigeria.
He added that the event served as an opportunity “to deepen and expand unity, comradeship, and commitment among Nigerians and concomitant organisations in Diaspora, to mobilise support and cooperation for transformational nation building and development.
“An outreach committee was appointed to negotiate terms for the integration of chapter(s), yet to join the unified boards.”
The chairman pointed out that the committee is “to continue to collaborate with NIDO-Worldwide and other stakeholders on shared interests on Diaspora Voting Rights, mobilisation of talent and resources to help create knowledge-based economy in Nigeria.
It is to ” vigorously pursue expansion of NIDO-Americas to all countries of the American Continent,” and “to organise impactful capacity building in IT, medical certification, foundation education intervention and vocational trainings, discussion fora and empowerment/value-added activities during annual Diaspora Month starting in July, 2023.”
Macham said the BoT was mandated to set up “Task Force” to collate short-term and long-term initiatives; develop modalities for implementation, including timeline and instrument to measure outcomes.
He stressed the need for all Nigerian governmental entities and diplomatic missions to channel citizens’ outreach and programme initiatives through NIDOA, as organisation of first resort.
He reiterated the need for Diasporas to seek INEC’s accreditation to observe the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria, as civic commitment and democratic expression of the sovereign will of Nigerians.
He said that NIDOA bye-laws were amended at the meeting to remove areas of potential conflict between the national and continental bodies, strengthen election procedures, and streamline chapter creation guidelines.
“Specifically, the amended bye-law grants the Boards of Directors the right to constitute election committees to conduct their respective elections.
“Restrict creation of new chapters to residents of the locality or city who wish to establish chapter and mandate they maintain minimum distance of 100-miles apart from each other, unless otherwise directed by the BoT,” he added.
He listed some of the high points of the event to have included Golf Tournament kicked-off by Amb. Amina Smaila, Nigeria Ambassador to the United States, plenary sessions, AGM-business session.
He, however, said the event was attended by the Consul General of Nigeria in Atlanta, and Amb. Lot Egopija, Consul General of Nigeria in New York.
Also were, Amb. Joe Keshi, former Permanent Secretary of Nigeria, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who delivered keynote address to underscore the urgent need for NIDOA to prioritise intervention initiatives that focused on education, health, and ICT sectors in Nigeria. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Amb. Amina Smaila Amb. Joe Keshi Amb. Lot Egopija Diaspora Organisation-Americas Dr Ezekiel Macham
