H. E. Dr Benson Alfred Bana has commended Nigeria’s frontline strides in her engagement with her Diaspora for nation building, and expressed the passion of the Tanzania Government to engage her Diaspora for such output as well. He enumerated the long and good relationship that has existed between Tanzania and Nigeria, reflective of their shared common position in the international scene.
His Excellency stated further that he came to tap from the wealth of knowledge and experiences of the NiDCOM team, and also to know how the Federal Government is able to engage her Diaspora to contribute meaningfully to their country, adding that all over the world Nigerians are excelling in all their endeavours. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for showing interest in Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Furthermore, H. E. Dr Benson Alfred Bana put to rest the false news on members of the Nigerian Diaspora in Tanzania, being denied justice granted by the Tanzania courts as reported by some media platforms. Stating that these allegations were unfounded and lacked valid documents from the courts to substantiate any of such claims by the media. He informed that the Nigeria High Commission in Tanzania has also validate the submission of the Tanzania High Commission with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja- Nigeria. He further assured that his mandate is to continue to build and strengthen that relationship between the two sister countries which dates back to the 60s.
Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) expressed her delight to receive the envoy to her office, remarked that the Nigerian President is the number one Diaspora champion, stressing that any country the President visits, he meets with the Nigerian Diaspora and encourages them to be the best in whatever they do, to be good Ambassadors and never to forget home. She therefore urged the Tanzanian government to create an agency that deals strictly with their Diaspora, stating that “it is not about the number but what they are able to do.”
She informed that NiDCOM has an act establishing the commission, a policy document guiding its activity and a newsletter telling its stories, she shared this documents with the High Commissioner and promised a reciprocal visit to the High Commission in Abuja to carry forward the conversation of strengthening the Tanzania Diaspora through sharing NiDCOM's experience.
