The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Diaspora

  • Nigerians in Diaspora disagree

    Nigerians in Diaspora under the aegis of the Buhari Friends Organisgaion Network has kicked against Federal Government’s decision to postpone the polls.

    The group described the postponement as a third term plot as well as a sign of desperation of the ruling party.

    Coordinator of the group, Mr. Charles Whate, in a statement in Jos, Plateau State yesterday, said: “We have observed that Prof. Attahiru Jega, the INEC chairman, was bullied and threatened by the presidency into postponing the February elections. The sighting of security as the reason for the postponement is ridiculous and makes a mockery of Nigeria in the eyes of the international community.

    “The situation in Nigeria is not even near that of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, yet all those countries conducted their elections despite the monumental security challenges.

  • Diaspora group mobilises support for Buhari/Osinbajo

    Diaspora group mobilises support for Buhari/Osinbajo

    A group of young Nigerian professionals in the diaspora under the aegis of the Nigerian Diaspora Alliance For Good Governance (NIDAGG) has declared its support for the All Progressive Congress’ (APC) Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in the February 14 polls, General Muhamadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo respectively. Speaking at a recent event to mark the group’s support for the APC flag bearers, NIDAGG’s President, Abdul Ibiyeye, said the group plans to encourage violence-free polls as well as the emergence of credible and competent leaders.

    He praised the calibre of candidates put forward by the APC and declared that NIDAGG’s vision is encapsulated in the APC’s quest for change.

    “This walk for change is to express our ardent support from the USA as Nigerian Americans to raise awareness for the need to vote for good governance in Nigeria during the February general elections. The objectives of the rally which is billed for Saturday, February 7th, 2015 at Daley Plaza, Chicago Downtown, United States of America (USA), are to beckon on world leaders to assist the Nigerian government to ensure we have a peaceful  election and ensure that the Nigerian government conducts a free and fair election and to appeal to Nigerians to go out and vote and let their voices be heard.

    “The upcoming presidential election is unarguably the most significant in our nation’s history. This contest is more than a choice between two major presidential candidates or political parties. It’s a clear choice between two fundamentally different paths and visions for Nigeria. We want a visionary leader with the fortitude and will to restore our staggering unity and retrace our steps back to the path of progress. We yearn for a leader who can ensure that the future of our nation is not foreclosed by the political immaturity that has poisoned our polity for so long; a leader who can harness our traditional strength to address many of our greatest problems: security, corruption, energy, unemployment, education, healthcare, and economic competitiveness.

    “We are convinced that the unimpeachable profiles of both General Muhammad Buhari and Professor Osinbajo match these leadership requirements. Their values and records clearly affirm what is best in us. In view of this, we want to openly declare our unwavering support for them,” Ibiyeye said.

    Justifying the group’s support for the APC, Ibiyeye said the present administration under President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to get the much needed dividends of democracy across to the teeming populace. “Our hearts cry in anguish at the magnitude of unemployed young souls that ply the streets on a daily basis with no hope in sight. Our hearts yell with irritation as the nation’s treasury is continuously subjected to relentless plunder and each day brings further evidence that the way we manage the nation strengthens our adversaries.”

  • ‘Nigerians in Diaspora contributing to transformation agenda’

    Nigrians in the Diaspora are doing their best to raise the country’s profile in their various countries of residence, Mr. Festus Olatunde, the Chief Executive Officer, Greatway Foundation Scotland, has said.

    Olatunde made this clarification during the formal launching of the pre check-in luggage weighing systems, otherwise called “Best-Weigh” & “Best-Vend” Systems, commissioned at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja recently.

    Speaking on the innovation, Olatunde said it is the airport is the first to have this machine in Africa. This is a unique transformation that will ease the passengers check in process.

    Echoing similar sentiments, the company’s Chairman, Chief Alex Adole explained that the company’s interest in pre check-in luggage weigh systems was informed by the absence of a standard, advanced and technologically driven system which would enable airline passengers from Nigeria and the entire Africa at large, the ease and comfort of checking the weight of their luggage before getting to the check-in point to determine if it conformed to the allowed carriage limit and either reducing or separating it- in the event that it is in excess. “We found that this could be done without having to abandon or send back items of one’s luggage. We saw the inconvenience and discomfort with which air travellers from Nigeria had to check their luggage weight at the check-in point after the wait on the queue, the instances of excess luggage, the haggling and exchange of unpleasant words between passengers and airline staff, the stress of having to leave the queue to repack their luggage and even possibly abandon, discard or send back items in their luggage. They still have to join the queue again and face the same process of weighing yet again until they are cleared for check-in.”

    GAOOUP’s desire, he stressed, “is to remove all of these and provide air passengers the comfort and luxury of ensuring their luggage is not in excess of the allowed carriage limit, repacking and rechecking their luggage if they are in excess; before they get to the check-in points.”

    Pressed further, Adole said: “With Weigh-Ahead, passengers are guided step by step through the easy to use system, allowing them to weigh their luggage and compare it to their flight’s luggage allowance. In less than 30 seconds the system will show the bag’s weight compared to the airline’s baggage allowance and if the bag is overweight, how much the passenger could expect to be charged at check-in. This gives passengers the opportunity to re-pack any excess luggage before they check-in, avoiding any unnecessary airline charges.

    “Our process overall reduces queuing time, speeds up the check-in process, eliminates the stress, cost and embarrassment associated with excess luggage and contributes to improved customer-service and modernising our airports.

    Today, we make bold to say that GAOOUP is Africa’s foremost in the provision of pre-check in luggage weighing systems.”

  • Diaspora group builds hospital for Imo community

    Residents of Nsu, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State eagerly await the completion of a sizeable hospital in their community being built by their kith and kin in Canada.

    The Nsu Development and Cultural Association (NDCA), made up of indigenous Nsu people living and working in North America, unveiled the ultra-modern hospital project in Lagos.

    A large number of Nsu people under the aegis of Nsu Development Union (NSU) witnessed the event.

    Addressing the gathering, Dr Steven Madu, a senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Central Regional Hospital, Canada said that they embarked on the hospital project to provide access to standard health care and prevent avoidable deaths away among their people and neighboring communities.

    He also outlined plans to make the hospital a reference centre in the cadre of a teaching hospital as well as training ground for nurses and other health personal.

    Madu also said he hoped the facility will engage the services of well-trained specialists and general practitioners.

    Chairman of NDU, Lagos Chapter, Mr Chinedu Ogbonna thanked members of the NDCA for their zeal and love for their people, urging Nsu residents to see the hospital project as a wake-up call.

    Work at the site is expected to be completed on schedule.

  • 2015: Ohanaeze to decide Sept 29

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze, will on September 29 decide on its presidential candidate.

    The decision will be taken at the Igbo day celebration at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, Anambra State.

    Chairman of the organising committee Chris Eluemunoh said Ndigbo would review the 100 years of amalgamation, the role of Ndigbo in Nigeria past, present and future and the way forward.

    He said seven governors would attend the ceremony, including Igbo sons and daughters in Nigeria and Diaspora.

  • Reviving Igbo culture in the Diaspora

    Reviving Igbo culture in the Diaspora

    Culture is the customs, ideas, values, character, practices, traditions and norms of a people, society or social group. It encompasses the visual art, music, dance forms, attire, cuisine, language, mythology, and festivals through which a distinct ethnic group is identified.

    The Igbo, like other ethnic groups, are identified by some cultural traits that distinguish them from others.

    Igbo culture or Omenala Ndigbo modifies the people’s thoughts, speech, actions, and behaviour.

    One of the revered cultural practices of Ndigbo is the celebration of the new yam festival which has been passed on to generations. They also believe in onuru ube nwanne agbala oso (being their brothers’ keeper).

    As a result, they congregate as village associations, town unions, or church associations or societies wherever they reside. This helps them to further propagate their culture. Wherever they reside, Ndigbo celebrate their culture, especially the Iriji (new yam festival).

    For this reason, they celebrated the new yam festival in far away Netherlands, during which some notable Igbo sons were recognised and honoured.

    The festival was performed by Eze Ndigbo in Lagos, His Royal Highness Dr. Christian Nwachukwu.

    The festival was not for those who live in Netherlands alone. Other prominent Igbo traditional rulers travelled to be part of the great cultural festival. Among them was the traditional ruler of Ichida in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Charles Ezeudogu (Obi II of Ichida).

    Notable Igbo sons and daughters in attendance were the publisher of Orient Daily Newspapers and Magazines, Sir Godwin Ezeemo; the Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Emeka Eze and High Chief Obiora Okonkwo who was represented by Chief Arinze Okonkwo.

    They were given awards of excellence in recognition of their various contributions to the development of Igbo land.

    Two of the award recipients, Mr. Eze and Sir Ezeemo, had contributed immensely to the development of Anambra State through philanthropy.

    The ceremony also brought together some Igbo daughters in the Diaspora. They included the Minister in Nigeria’s Embassy, Mrs. Nini Okey Uche and the chairperson, Igbo Women Forum in the United Kingdom, Mrs. Megan Adaobi Clement, among others.

    Speaking at the event, the President of Igbo Union in Amsterdam, Anthony Okafor, said the ceremony was borne out of the desire to rekindle the Igbo language among the younger generation.

    He said the habit of parents and guardians in disregarding their mother tongue in preference to foreign languages and cultures needed to be addressed.

    “We have seen our mistakes in discarding our tradition totally for the Whiteman’s culture, while the so-called Whiteman holds to fast theirs.

    “Civilisation does not mean abandonment of one’s lineage. Rather, it needs to be propagated. So, we intend to correct that mistake for our children’s future,” Okafor said.

    According to Igwe Nwachukwu, the event was to maintain and inculcate Igbo cultural values and traditions in the younger generation so that they would not repeat the mistakes of the past.

    “We hope that this year’s new yam festival and celebration of successful Igbo citizens will make a mark in the lives of our children, so as to keep the light aglow when we are gone,” he said.

    Ezeemo praised the group for honouring him. He said: “Ndigbo always maintained the principle of onuru ube nwanne agbala oso anywhere they reside. They are entrepreneurs of repute and never rely on help that are patronising.”

    Ezeemo advised the group to be selfless in serving one another to achieve immeasurable goals. He also urged them to make accountability their watchword; learn from the system so as to bring wealth from the Western world back home for solid and sustainable development of Igbo communities.

    Continuing, he said: “The traits which Ndigbo are known for are being brought to bear, whether at home or in the Diaspora. Ndigbo in Amsterdam have made me proud. I have no regret being an Igbo man. Your single initiative to have an Igbo school in a foreign land shows truly that the blood of our ancestors flows in you all.

    “I am happy with the development. I will contribute my quota to ensure that our children, no matter where they were born, would be proud of their native language and speak it fluently as well as language is a handmaid of culture.

    “The fight to salvage our customs, culture, tradition, values and language is one we must win. We have a very rich cultural heritage which we must preserve and hand over to our children and generations unborn.

    “It is heartbreaking to realise that our fathers handed over cultures, traditions and customs to us and we are unable to sustain them. Rather, we tend to allow them to become extinct.

    “I grew up with the moonlight tales and plays, folktales, masquerade displays at the village square, new yam festival, kinsmen exchanging visits and meetings to mention but a few. These Igbo cultural values and mores are eroding away fast.

    “Let us emulate our Yoruba and Hausa brothers that are so proud of their languages. Even in the Whiteman’s land; let us bring back the culture of brotherhood.”

    Ezeemo praised the group for its efforts to ensure that the Igbo language is not extinct in 2025 as predicted by the United Nations Educational Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

  • Diaspora remittances hit $21b, says KPMG

    Diaspora remittances hit $21b, says KPMG

    With a yearly growth rate of three per cent over the past five years and $21 billion inflow of personal remittances last year, Nigeria is the fifth largest remittance receiver worldwide in terms of volume, a KPMG report has shown.

    The Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey 2014 by the firm obtained by The Nation showed that remittance to Nigeria accounts for 65.6 per cent of total flows into sub-Saharan Africa.

    The feat, it said, presents some avenue for banks that may want to tap into the opportunities created by this class of Nigerians who wish to transact banking business using their local bank accounts.

    In an online survey of 127 Nigerians resident in 12 countries who maintain local banking relationships, convenience was the overwhelming driver of value.

    According to the report, when asked for the most important factor in their banking relationships, 44 per cent of the customers selected the availability of internet banking. In particular, customers identified the ease of use of the internet banking platform as the most important factor followed closely by the quality of customer service.

    Seventy-seven per cent of those surveyed transfer money through formal channels – banks (48 per cent) or other money transfer agencies (29 per cent) – compared to 19 per cent who said they send money home through less informal ways – family and friends – travelling home.

    Also, on the effectiveness of the contact centre, the ease of complaints resolution was cited as a major area of dissatisfaction.

    It also showed that more than 50 per cent of customers who have used their bank’s contact centre have been dissatisfied with the promptness of issues resolution and quality of feedback. It cited one bank’s  response to a customer facing some debit card challenges that the customer should wait until his next visit home, for his query to be resolved.

    The increasing frequency and magnitude of cybercrime incidents globally make it apparent that cybercrime is here to stay. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) report for the first half of last year noted that there were 2,478 fraud and forgery cases  banks worth over N20 billion. This, it said, represented an eight per cent increase over that of the previous year but a significant increase in value of over 200 per cent from 2012.

    In this year’s survey, two per cent of retail customers indicated that they had experienced a fraud  in the last year and while this number appears small today, it may signify the start of a potentially disturbing future trend.

    It said a survey by KPMG in the Netherlands showed, 80 per cent of the respondents indicated that cybercrime is no hype and will continue to be a highly challenging topic.

    The survey showed that 49 per cent of organisations have experienced some form of cybercrime activity during the past 12 months.

    That is not to say the rest have not experienced an attack; they may not have the proper detection measures in place. Among the 49 per cent that have experienced an attack, 10 per cent indicated that they have been attacked more than 100 times within the past year. Inadequate detection procedures may conceal the real number of cybercrime attacks. Only 50 per cent of the respondents were able to detect attacks and only 44 per cent of the organisations felt comfortable that they were able to respond.

    It said organisations should ask themselves whether they are aware and capable of handling a cybercrime attack. The survey found that 35 per cent do not agree that their organisation is aware of cybercrime, though the financial sector respondents score significantly lower. This would imply that financial institutions are more aware of cybercrime than other typologies.

    Attacks may come by various methods heavily on and correlate with the budgets that have been made available. The damage from cybercrime attacks and budgets allocated to cybercrime defence can be substantial. It said the way in which cybercrime defence budgets are allocated to prevention, detection and response measures should be considered carefully.

    Nineten per cent of the organisations in the survey spend more than 1.5 million euros on cybercrime prevention, detection and response per year.

    The damage caused shows that not only did financial organisations report almost half of all incidents resulting in damage, they were also the victims with the most incidents in the highest damage bracket.

    The survey results revealed that 75 per cent of the over 1.5million euro attacks occur in this sector. “In all, our survey found that financial service organisations are more aware of cybercrime than other organisations (80 per cent),’’ the firm added.

  • Alaafin tasks Yoruba in diaspora on cultural promotion

    Alaafin tasks Yoruba in diaspora on cultural promotion

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III has tasked Yoruba in the diaspora to promote their cultural heritage.

    Oba Adeyemi made this appeal while receiving the newly elected president of a Yoruba group based in Texas, United State in America, Mr. Bolu Omodele in his palace over the weekend.

    He thanked Yorubas in diaspora for their continued solidarity visit to show support to their cultural heritage.

    “God did not make mistake by making us blacks and of all the black Africans, Yoruba, sons and daughters of Oodua are most impressive” An Anglican missionary came up with a write-up in which he said Yoruba have been modest in practicing cabinet method of separation of power even before whiteman came.

    “The choice of Oyomesi can otherwise be called a cabinet system of government which gives room for separation of power that made Oyo empire to thrive and a reason we are called pace-setter”, the imperial majesty declared.

    Oba Adeyemi however expressed sadness with the  abysmal use of Yoruba language by some traditional rulers in Yoruba land.

    “What is most saddening is that some kings are castings aspersion on their religions and culture, even as some call themselves Christian and Muslims monarchs, but Oyo kingdom has not undermined the culture to show to the world that we are the real custodian of Yoruba cultural heritage” he said

    In his own speech, Omodele,  thanked Oba Adeyemi for his good role in promoting Yoruba culture.

     

  • IYC charts new course

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) is charting a new course. Last weekend, the body elected zonal officers, starting with the election of officers into the Central and Western zones. It said it chose to carry out the elections now so as to have a vibrant organisation across the region and in the Diaspora ahead of the 2015 elections.

    The Western zone officers emerged on Saturday after a keenly contested election held at Ogbe-Ijoh Primary School ground, in Ogbe-Ijoh Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The election, which was witnessed by the National President of IYC, Comrade Udengs Eradiri alongside the spokesman of the council, Eric Omare and other national officers of the council, was declared free and fair by the chairman of the 7-man electoral committee, Omoro Ogei.

    Declaring the results, Ogei, flanked by other committee members, said the election was devoid of rancour.

    According to him, 69 delegates participated in the election from the 23 Clans that were duly certified to vote, adding that in the IYC zoning arrangement, six offices were zoned to Delta State and two zoned to Ondo.

    Comrade Freeborn Atigbe from Edo State emerged the new executive chairman of the Western zone, beating three other contestants to the position.

    Others elected to pilot the affairs of the zone for the next three years include: Preye Thomas Koremene (Vice Chairman, Delta), Iwabi Ebigha Ebidaubra (Secretary General, Ondo), Napoleon Kenerekedi (Information Officer, Delta), Ms. Patience Seimode Inigha (Women Leader, Delta), Augustine Ebi-Okporu (Assistant Secretary, Delta), Ms. Esther Ukulor (Treasurer, Delta), Jackson Agbor (Financial Secretary, Delta), Denmene Edwin (Mobilisation Officer, Edo), as well as Loko Kikiranki Ibakeyowei (Student Representative, Ondo).

    Eradiri said: “It is a fulfillment of the convention we held at Ofunopama, Edo State in June. In that convention, we agreed that all elections should be held in clans, chapters and zones both in Nigeria and in Diaspora.”

  • Easy mortgage for Nigerians in diaspora

    Easy mortgage for Nigerians in diaspora

    •As FMBN rolls out guidelines

    Barring any last minute change in plans, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) will soon commence the Diaspora mortgage model to serve the needs of Nigerians abroad who want to own homes in the country.

    Managing Director of the Bank, Gimba Ya’u Kumo, who disclosed that the Nigeria Diaspora Loan Scheme was developed in order to broaden the delivery channels for mass housing through the National Housing Fund Scheme (NHF) as provided by its core mandate.

    Kumo disclosed that the FMBN is currently concluding arrangements on securing an international payment gateway through which the funds will be channelled.

    He said, “We want to carry everybody along once it becomes operational and that is why we are seeking to secure an international gateway payment means through Visa and MasterCard.

    “Already, we have had two meetings with them and also liaising with the Central Bank of Nigeria for necessary assistance and approvals.”

    The FMBN boss said that the money from the product will be domiciled in the CBN because it is foreign currency and also to give the bank the opportunity to use it as security to borrow internationally to fund the project.

    Part of the guidelines for accessing the product, Kumo disclosed, is that prospective homeowners would be required to make monthly contributions of the equivalent sum of US $100 over a minimum period of three years. The cumulative monthly contributions, he said, is meant to contribute savings to the contributor which is refundable with interest upon exit from the NHF scheme in accordance with the NHF Act.

    The product is offered to Nigerians in the Diaspora who satisfy conditions of being above the age of 18 years, who earn regular income and have evidence of the right to reside in their country of residence.