President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed Abike Dabiri-Erewa for a second term as the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
In a letter written to the Nigerian Senate, President Buhari asked the Senate to confirm Abike’s reappointment.
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Abike Dabiri-Erewa was first named as NiDCOM chair in November 2018, she was the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs prior to her appointment as NiDCOM chair.
Dabiri-Erewa was also a member of the House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos from 2003-2015. While she was at the House of Representatives, Dabiri-Erewa chaired the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
The genesis of the NiDCOM is traceable to a bill initiated by Honourable Abike Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa, former representative of the Ikorodu federal constituency in Lagos State, and present chair of NiDCOM
In may 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Bill into law following its eventual passage by the eighth National Assembly.
In May 2019, the Federal Executive Council ratified and approved the much-awaited and expected National Diaspora Policy, the first of its kind in Nigeria and a holistic policy geared towards engagement of Nigerians in the diaspora in policies, projects and in participation in the development of Nigeria, thus giving birth to NiDCOM.
The hitherto office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs and the occupier, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa transmuted to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) following the Senate approval and her confirmation as the Chairman/CEO of the new Commission.
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, provide for the engagement of Nigerians in Diaspora in the policies, projects and participation in the development of Nigeria and for the purpose of utilizing the human capital and material resources of Nigerians in Diaspora towards the overall socio-economic, cultural and political development of Nigeria and for related matters.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was elected to the Federal House of Representatives in 2003 and reelected in 2007 and 2011. While at the National Assembly, she 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.
Before joining politics, she worked for the Nigerian Television Authority for fifteen years.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
